Wi-Fi 7 is the next-generation WiFi standard, which introduces technologies such as 320MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM, Multi-RU, multi-link operation, enhanced MU-MIMO, and multi-AP collaboration on the basis of WiFi 6, making WiFi 7 provide higher data transmission rates and lower latency than WiFi 6. WiFi 7 is expected to be able to support up to 30Gbps of throughput, which is about 3 times that of WiFi 6. This article provides a brief introduction to the testing capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 in terms of regulatory certification. At present, the terminal laboratory of Thiel has the ability to certify Wi-Fi 7 wireless regulations in North America, Canada, the European Union, Japan and other countries.
New test cases introduced by Wi-Fi 7 regulations
1. Wi-Fi 7 will continue to introduce the 6GHz band and add new bandwidth modes, including continuous 240MHz, non-continuous 160+80MHz, continuous 320 MHz and non-continuous 160+160MHz.
2. Wi-Fi 7 supports the Multi-RU mechanism, which is more flexible than Wi-Fi 6 and allows each user to allocate multiple RUs. The 20M/40M channel can be combined into 5 and 10 different Multiple RUs respectively through small size RUs, and each Multiple RU combination needs to be evaluated for regulatory compliance. The 80M/160M/320M channels can be combined into 4/4/12/24 different Multiple RUs by large size RUs, and each Multiple RU combination needs to be evaluated for regulatory compliance.
It can be seen that the test volume of Wi-Fi 7 has increased exponentially compared with the previous standard, so customers need to leave more time for testing when applying for certification.
3. Wi-Fi 7 adds a new mandatory test program, and there are already 5G cellular networks, satellite links, mobile broadcast broadcasts, and utility communication links in the 6G spectrum, all of which have a higher priority than Wi-Fi, so the FCC and ETSI mandate that Wi-Fi products perform a number of new tests on 6G band equipment to ensure efficient use of spectrum. Since the introduction of CBP testing for Wi-Fi 6e in 2022, the terminal laboratory has done CBP tests for more than 10 products, and has accumulated certain experience in CBP debugging, which can help customers quickly obtain certification.
CBP test passed the standard: after the interference signal is found on the working channel, reasonable avoidance is carried out, the transmission is stopped immediately, and the transmission can be resumed after the interference disappears.
4. The AFC test is included in the mandatory test items
AFC is a system that coordinates the use of spectrum in the 6GHz band, with Wi-Fi using low-power access points indoors and standard power access points outdoors, which are more susceptible to interference. AFC will help Wi-Fi 7 scale to higher power levels through algorithms while avoiding interference, making it a key technology to simplify the use of the 6GHz band.
At present, the terminal laboratory has the certification qualification of Wi-Fi 7 in North America, Europe and Japan, and has accumulated debugging and testing experience in many projects, and has maintained good cooperative relations with domestic chip manufacturers and router manufacturers, which can help customers successfully obtain multi-national certification in a short period of time, and is also the first Wi-Fi authorized certification laboratory in China, with comprehensive Wi-Fi Alliance certification and testing qualifications, multi-national regulatory testing and certification qualifications, and can provide customers with the most comprehensive one-stop certification services. In the future, CTTL Terminal Labs will continue to provide fast, efficient and customized testing services for the domestic terminal industry, and continue to maintain the most advanced testing capabilities in the Wi-Fi field.
If you have any testing needs, please contact: zhengwei1@caict.ac.cn.