In summary
- The numbers (6, 6E, 7) are Wi-Fi generations — like car generations: they all run, the new ones run better with more load.
- For most companies, Wi-Fi 6 is today the sweet spot between price and performance.
- Is Wi-Fi 7 justified in hotels, spaces with hundreds of devices and projects that want to last 10 years.
- More important than the generation is the network diagram — a poorly designed Wi-Fi 7 loses to a well-implemented Wi-Fi 6.
In this article
What the numbers mean, without jargon
Think of generations of cars. The Wi-Fi 6 (2019) was a big leap: it can handle lots of devices at the same time without getting confused — it was designed precisely for offices and crowded spaces. The Wi-Fi 6E added a new, empty motorway lane, useful in congested urban areas. Wi-Fi 7 (2024) is the current generation: faster, more stable, and capable of using multiple bands at the same time — designed for the next ten years. Everyone does the essential; the difference lies in how much they can handle and for how many years.
Which one to choose, by company type
- Office for up to 30 people - Professional Wi-Fi 6, well-designed, easily handles the job and at the best price.
- Businesses in dense buildings (business centres, urban areas) — Wi-Fi 6E or 7, to escape neighbours' congestion.
- Hotels, clinics and public spaces — Wi-Fi 7: hundreds of guest and customer devices, and an investment designed to last. That is what we installed at LX Arch Hotel in Lisbon.
- Warehouses and industry — generation matters less than equipment robustness and coverage; it is decided on site.
The mistake of buying generation instead of design
Marketing sells numbers: 6, 7, gigabits, “the fastest ever”. But a top-of-the-range Wi-Fi 7 access point, placed in the wrong spot and without separate networks, performs worse than Wi-Fi 6 equipment installed by someone who surveyed the building. The generation defines the theoretical ceiling; the network design defines how your team feels every day. Therefore, be wary of quotes that list equipment without ever mentioning a coverage survey.
Our practical advice
Being upgraded now: Wi-Fi 6 for most offices, Wi-Fi 7 for hospitality, public spaces, and 10-year projects. If the doubt persists, the right answer costs zero: the DataRoad evaluates your space and recommends the right generation and design for your case — without selling excess equipment. Ask uswithin 24 working hours there is a clear recommendation.
A chat before making a decision
Whether you’re tackling a specific problem, planning a move or simply looking for a second opinion, we always start in the same way: by understanding your situation before making any suggestions. No obligation, no jargon and no catalogues.
