With the rapid development of technology, wireless networks have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. From the initial WIFI to the current WIFI 7, wireless network technology has constantly broken through, providing users with faster and more stable network experiences. This article will explore the impact of WIFI 7's MLO (Multi-Link Operation) technology on wireless networks.
What is WIFI 7 and its MLO (Multi-Link Operation) technology?
WIFI 7 (IEEE 802.11be) is the latest generation of wireless network standards, expected to gradually gain popularity in the coming years. Compared to previous generations of WIFI technology, WIFI 7 has significantly improved in terms of speed, latency, and performance. MLO technology is a key feature of WIFI 7, allowing devices to connect to multiple frequency bands (such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) simultaneously and perform parallel transmissions. This means that on the same network, devices can utilize the bandwidth of multiple frequency bands at the same time, achieving higher speeds and efficiency.
The background of dual-band integration technology
In traditional dual-band routers, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands are usually separated, and users need to manually select or let the router automatically switch. However, with the increase in the number of devices and network load, a single frequency band may not be able to meet the needs of all devices. Dual-band integration technology combines the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands into one network, intelligently assigning devices to connect to different frequency bands, thereby reducing interference and improving speed and stability.
However, in earlier WIFI standards (such as WIFI 4, WIFI 5, WIFI 6), dual-band integration technology was not perfect, and it could only aggregate the throughput of WIFI on two or more different frequency bands through upper-layer application aggregation, which greatly increased the difficulty and stability of development.
How does WIFI 7's MLO technology improve dual-band integration?
MLO technology controls the entire process of data aggregation and disassembly at the link layer, making it imperceptible to the upper layers, allowing devices to connect to multiple frequency bands simultaneously and perform parallel transmissions. This fully utilizes the bandwidth resources of all frequency bands, improving overall network performance. In the dual-band integration mode, devices can simultaneously use signals from the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz frequency bands, achieving higher speeds and greater bandwidth. MLO technology can also intelligently allocate frequency band resources based on the device's location and network load, ensuring that devices are always connected to the best wireless network.
The specific improvements of MLO technology include:
Parallel Transmission: MLO allows devices to utilize multiple frequency bands for data transmission simultaneously, significantly enhancing transmission speed and efficiency.
Load Balancing: Through intelligent scheduling, MLO technology can distribute traffic to different frequency bands based on real-time network conditions, reducing congestion and improving network stability.
Seamless Switching: Devices can seamlessly switch between different frequency bands, avoiding connection interruptions and speed losses, enhancing user experience.
Reduced Network Latency: Through parallel transmission and intelligent scheduling, MLO technology reduces waiting time for data transmission, improving response speed.
Taking the newly developed WIFI7 network card module O7851PM from QOGRISYS as an example, with the support of MLO technology, the O7851PM module can achieve intelligent scheduling and load balancing across multiple frequency bands (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz), ensuring efficient utilization of network resources. Through intelligent scheduling, the module can distribute traffic to different frequency bands based on the device's location and real-time network load conditions, reducing network congestion and improving connection stability. The seamless switching capability of MLO technology also ensures that devices do not experience connection interruptions or speed losses when switching between different frequency bands, providing a smoother user experience.
In addition, this module also supports WIFI 7 technologies such as 320MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM, Multi-RU, enhanced MU-MIMO, and multi-AP coordination, significantly enhancing the network performance and user experience of the module.
Conclusion
The introduction of MLO technology marks another significant breakthrough in wireless network technology. Through dual-band integration and parallel transmission, WIFI7 can provide higher speeds, lower latency, and more stable network connections, meeting the ever-increasing network demands of the future. With the gradual popularization of WiFi7, users will be able to enjoy a superior wireless network experience, driving the further development of various industries.