Networking

Should State and Local Governments Upgrade to Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 represents the latest advancement in wireless technology, but for many agencies, the decision to upgrade is complex.

Zeus Kerravala

Twitter

Zeus Kerravala is principal analyst with ZK Research, which provides tactical and long-term strategic advice to clients.

Wi-Fi 7 represents the latest advancement in wireless technology, promising a significant leap in efficiency, speed and overall user experience. Organizations with crowded wireless networks and demanding use cases are the primary candidates for an upgrade.

Conversely, those on tight budgets and whose current Wi-Fi networks meet their needs may be better off waiting. For many state and local governments, which may have a combination of high-density environments and budget constraints, the decision to adopt Wi-Fi 7 is complex.

Click the banner below for more insights into improving networking performance.

x-networkmodernization-animated-2024-clickhere-desktop

x-networkmodernization-animated-2024-clickhere-mobile

Here are five questions to help your government IT officials determine if the time is right to upgrade.

1. Do We Have a Need for Truly Future-Proof Hardware?

Wi-Fi 7 is designed to support next-generation applications, including 8K video streaming, augmented reality, virtual reality and immersive online training. By adopting Wi-Fi 7 now, your agency can ensure its network is ready for the high-bandwidth, low-latency demands of these emerging technologies, providing a better experience for employees and citizens.

2. Is Network Congestion a Daily Challenge for Our Campus?

With the high density of devices per student and the proliferation of the Internet of Things, government Wi-Fi networks are more crowded than ever. Wi-Fi 7’s advanced features, such as Multi-Link Operation and preamble puncturing, are specifically engineered to mitigate interference and deliver reliable connections even in the most crowded buildings. MLO allows devices to simultaneously connect on multiple frequency bands, aggregating them for faster speeds or providing redundancy for enhanced reliability, which is crucial for real-time collaboration.

3. Are Our Current Network Solutions Failing to Meet Our Needs?

If the institution is struggling with slow speeds, buffering or dropped connections even after a recent upgrade, it may indicate a need for more than just incremental improvement. Wi-Fi 7’s substantial gains in speed and efficiency could be the solution, particularly for bandwidth-intensive activities such as cloud computing, real-time collaboration and large-scale file transfers.

4. Are We Financially Prepared to Upgrade Infrastructure?

The full benefits of Wi-Fi 7 can only be realized when both the network infrastructure (access points, controllers, switches) and the end-user devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) are Wi-Fi 7-compatible. While Wi-Fi 7 is backward-compatible, IT leaders must budget for new hardware and a phased rollout that aligns with device refresh cycles. The cost of a full refresh can be substantial and requires careful planning and strategic partnerships to ensure a smooth transition.

5. What Is the ROI of a Wi-Fi 7 Upgrade?

For many institutions, the ROI is not only about faster Wi-Fi but about enabling new opportunities. Wi-Fi 7 can enhance online training, support cutting-edge research and improve the overall online government experience. The cost must be weighed against these strategic benefits.

Wipada Wipawin/Getty Images