Many property owners assume that upgrading to the latest technology — like WiFi 7 — is always the smart move for multifamily properties. After all, it promises faster speeds and greater efficiency.
While WiFi 7 does represent a major leap forward in wireless technology, whether it’s the right move for your property depends on your property layout, residents’ needs, and long-term strategy.
We spoke with Csaba Orban, Senior Designs Engineer at Touchstone 1, to explore when and where investing in WiFi 7 makes sense today — and how property owners can prepare for it.
What is WiFi 7?
WiFi 7 is the latest wireless standard designed to deliver multi-gigabit speeds, with increased capacity and improved performance in high-density environments.
Here’s how WiFi 7 compares to WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 — the standards most people use in their homes today:
-Speed
WiFi 7 supports maximum speeds of up to 46 Gbps, compared to 9.6 Gbps for WiFi 6 and 3.6 Gbps for WiFi 5.
What this means:
Your WiFi could deliver significantly higher speeds than WiFi 5 — enabling ultra-fast downloads, seamless streaming, and consistent performance across every device in the home.
-Latency
Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms) and reflects how quickly data travels across a network. In typical environments, WiFi 5 networks operate around 10–30 ms, WiFi 6 around 5–20 ms, and WiFi 7 can achieve latency as low as 5–10 ms under optimal conditions.
What this means:
With WiFi 7, your residents’ devices can deliver highly responsive, low-latency performance. Whether for video calls or gaming, the experience remains smooth, reliable, and consistent with minimal lag.
-Device capacity
WiFi 7 delivers improved device capacity and efficiency compared to WiFi 5 and WiFi 6, allowing more devices to connect simultaneously without compromising performance.
What this means:
More devices can connect to your network without slowing it down — from phones and smart TVs to thermostats and other smart home devices.
WiFi 7 uses 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, with 6 GHz enabling higher speeds and less interference. The trade-off is that higher-frequency signals don’t travel as far or penetrate walls as effectively.
“Because of the way sound and light waves work, the higher-frequency signals like those used in WiFi 7 have shorter ranges.” Csaba explains. “The signal also can’t penetrate walls effectively.” Fortunately, this is easily addressed through proper network design.
Other Option
“Higher-frequency signals, like those used in WiFi 7, have shorter range and don’t penetrate walls as effectively,” Csaba explains. “However, this can be easily addressed with proper network design.”
Is WiFi7 Much Better Than WiFi5?
WiFi 7 is a major step forward from WiFi 5, delivering significantly higher throughput and improved efficiency. It supports wider channel widths, allowing more data to be transmitted across the network. It can also take advantage of the 6 GHz band, which is newer and typically less congested than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands — improving overall performance.
While most consumer devices are still catching up to what WiFi 7 can deliver, it’s designed with the next generation of connected living in mind. As device hardware and wireless technology continue to evolve, phones, laptops, and other devices will be able to take full advantage of these capabilities in the future.
When WiFi 7 Makes Sense in Multifamily
While WiFi 7 isn’t a one-size-fits-all upgrade for multifamily properties, it can deliver strong value when deployed intentionally. Today, it’s most beneficial for new construction, major renovations, and properties looking to future-proof rather than address current device demand. Here are some key planning considerations to keep in mind.
WiFi 7 Systems Require a Higher Density of Access Points Than Other WiFi
Essentially, you can think of your WiFi signal as a circular coverage area extending from each access point.
Lower-frequency signals, like 2.4 GHz, provide wider coverage and can often reach across an entire apartment. In contrast, higher-frequency signals — particularly the 6 GHz band used by WiFi 7 — offer higher speeds but cover a smaller area and have more difficulty penetrating walls.
As a result, WiFi 7 deployments often require more than one access point per unit, especially in larger floor plans. Smaller units, such as studios or one-bedroom apartments, may still be adequately served by a single access point.
What Are the Costs Associated with WiFi 7?
Needing more access points to support WiFi 7’s higher-frequency performance is only part of the overall investment. In addition to increased access point density, WiFi 7 hardware typically comes at a higher cost compared to previous generations.
As a result, a cost-benefit analysis becomes essential. For some properties — such as luxury developments or new construction — the long-term value can outweigh the upfront investment. For others, a phased or hybrid approach may be the smarter strategy.
If You’re Not Ready to Upgrade, Consider a Wiring Upgrade
Upgrading a building’s wiring is a strong long-term strategy for properties that aren’t ready to deploy WiFi 7. Installing high-quality infrastructure, such as fiber-optic cabling, helps property owners support higher bandwidth, improve reliability, and simplify future upgrades when the time is right.
Takeaway: Is WiFi 7 Worth It?
WiFi 7 is absolutely worth it — when deployed at the right time, in the right way, and for the right property. While it may not be the best immediate upgrade for every multifamily building, it already delivers meaningful benefits where it matters most.
For many properties, the smartest approach is preparation: investing in wiring, evaluating layouts, and planning for WiFi 7 so deployment is seamless when demand and timing align.
The Future of Multifamily WiFi
WiFi 7 is just one of many technology trends shaping the future of multifamily living — alongside innovations like solar energy, access control, multifamily surveillance systems, and more.
Ready to explore WiFi 7 and other multifamily technologies for your property?
Contact Touchstone 1 (formerly MDU Internet Services) today for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your current wiring infrastructure, assess what your property needs to support the latest technology, and recommend cost-effective solutions for both new builds and retrofits — tailored to your residents’ needs and your budget.