CES 2026: Multi-link, 20-MHz IoT boost Wi-Fi 7 prospects

Wi-Fi 7 enters 2026 with a crucial announcement made at the CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing the 20-MHz device category for Wi-Fi 7, aimed at addressing the needs of the broader Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Add Wi-Fi 7’s multi-link IoT capability to this, and you have a more consistent, always‑connected experience for applications such as security cameras, video doorbells, alarm systems, medical devices, and HVAC systems.

The 802.11be standard, widely known as Wi-Fi 7, was drafted in 2024, and the formal standard followed in 2025. From Wi-Fi 1 to Wi-Fi 5, the focus was on increasing the connection’s data rate. But then the industry realized that a mere increase in speed wasn’t beneficial.

“The challenge shifted to managing traffic on the network as more devices were coming onto the network,” said Sivaram Trikutam, senior VP of wireless products at Infineon Technologies. “So, the focus in Wi-Fi 6 shifted toward increasing the efficiency of the network.”

The industry then took Wi-Fi 7 to the next level in terms of efficiency over the past two years, especially with the emergence of high-performance applications. The challenge shifted to how multiple devices on the network could share spectrum efficiently so they could all achieve a useful data rate.

The quest to support multiple devices, at the heart of Wi-Fi 7 design, eventually led to the Wi-Fi Alliance’s announcement that even a 20 MHz IoT device can now be certified as a Wi-Fi 7 device. The Wi-Fi 7 certification program, expanded to include 20-MHz IoT devices, could have a profound impact on this wireless technology’s future.

Figure 1 Wi-Fi 7 in access points and routers is expected to overtake Wi-Fi 6/6E in 2028. Source: Infineon

20-MHz IoT in Wi-Fi 7’s fold

Unlike notebooks and smartphones, 20-MHz devices don’t require a high data rate. IoT applications like door locks, thermostats, security cameras, and robotic vacuum cleaners need to be connected, but they don’t require gigabit data rates; they typically need 15 Mbps. What they demand is high-quality, reliable connectivity, as these devices sit at difficult locations from a wireless perspective.

At CES 2026, Infineon unveiled what it calls the industry’s first 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 device for IoT applications. ACW741x, part of Infineon’s AIROC family of multi-protocol wireless chips, integrates a tri-radio encompassing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0 with channel sounding, and IEEE 802.15.4 Thread with Matter ecosystem support in a single device.

Figure 2 ACW741x integrates radios for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0, and IEEE 802.15.4 Thread in a single chip. Source: Infineon

The ACW741x tri-radio chip also integrates wireless sensing capabilities, adding contextual awareness to IoT devices and facilitating home automation and personalization applications. Here, Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI) based on the 802.11bf standard enables enhanced Wi-Fi sensing with intelligence sharing between same-network devices. Next, channel sounding delivers accurate, secure, and low-power ranging with centimeter-level accuracy.

ACW741x is optimized for a 20-MHz design to support battery-operated applications such as security cameras, door locks, and thermostats that require ultra-low Wi-Fi-connected standby power. It bolsters link reliability with adaptive band switching to mitigate congestion and interference.

Adaptive band switching without disconnecting from the network opens the door to Wi-Fi 7 multi-link for IoT devices while maintaining concurrent links across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. ACW741x supports Wi-Fi 7 multi-link for IoT, enhancing robustness in congested environments.

Multi-link for IoT devices

Wi-Fi operates in three bands—2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz—and when a device connects to an access point, it must choose a band. Once connected, it cannot change it, even if that band gets congested. That will change in Wi-Fi 7, which connects virtually to all three bands with a single RF chain at no extra system cost.

Wi-Fi 7 operates in the best frequency band, enhancing robustness in congestion in home networks and interference across neighboring networks. “Multi-link for IoT allows establishing connections at all bands, and a device can dynamically select which band to use at a given point via active band switching without disconnecting from the networking,” said Trikutam. “And you can move from one band to another by disconnecting and reconnecting within 7 to 10 seconds.”

That’s crucial because the number of connected devices in a home is growing rapidly, from 10 to 15 devices after pandemic to more than 50 devices in 2025 in a U.S. and European home. Add this to the introduction of 20-MHz IoT devices in Wi-Fi 7’s fold, and you have a rosy picture for this wireless technology’s future.

Figure 3 Multi-link for IoT enables wireless connections across all three frequency bands. Source: Infineon

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, shipments of access points supporting the standard rose from 26.3 million in 2024 to a projected 66.5 million in 2025. And ABI Research projects that the transition to Wi-Fi 7 will accelerate further in 2026, with a forecast annual shipment number of Wi-Fi 7 access points at 117.9 million.

Related Content

• Broadcom delivers Wi-Fi 8 chips for AI
• CES 2026: Wi-Fi 8 silicon on the horizon with an AI touch
• Exploring the superior capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 over Wi-Fi 6
• Chipsets brings Wi-Fi 7 to a broad range of wireless applications
• Europe Focuses on 6GHz Regulation, While Wi-Fi 7 Looms Beyond

The post CES 2026: Multi-link, 20-MHz IoT boost Wi-Fi 7 prospects appeared first on EDN.