Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has introduced new Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) through its Aruba Networking division, offering up to 30% greater capacity compared to similar products. These APs enhance network security and improve location-based services, supporting enterprise needs in AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and security applications.
The APs utilize HPE's patented ultra tri-band hardware technology to maximize efficiency in the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, reducing contention and increasing performance. Managed by HPE Aruba Networking Central, the APs incorporate built-in support for various IoT protocols, including Zigbee and Bluetooth, eliminating the need for separate IoT network overlays. This integration facilitates secure connectivity for a growing array of IoT devices at the network edge, such as cameras and sensors.
Moreover, these APs are part of a broader ecosystem involving over 350 HPE technology partners, enhancing the ability of organizations to process and utilize IoT-generated data for AI applications. This includes developing predictive maintenance, digital twins, and personalized customer experiences, thereby enabling effective use of AI data lakes for real-time business insights.
Key features:
- More Wi-Fi performance: UTB filtering eliminates channel interference on adjacent channels in 5GHz and 6GHz bands, maximizing performance and capacity, giving organizations the flexibility to use both bands simultaneously.
- Enhanced wireless security: Policy-based access control and Layer 7 application firewalls build upon a foundation of security-first wireless features such as HPE Aruba Networking Central Client Insights for improved IoT visibility and automated Dynamic Segmentation to deliver role-based access for users and IoT devices. Additional features include new link level encryption (MACsec) capabilities, which extend wired data protection to the AP, and a personal wireless network mode that provides secure, self-service onboarding of user devices in group environments such as college campuses.
- Eliminate IoT Overlay Networks: HPE Aruba Networking Central’s IoT Operations dashboard streamlines device onboarding and eliminates high-overhead vendor-specific IoT overlay networks, allowing APs to act as a connector and local processing element for IoT devices to communicate directly with third-party IoT services.
- Wider support for IoT protocols: Dual dedicated Bluetooth and Zigbee radios provide support for high-density IoT environments, and dual USB ports provide robust connectivity for a broad range of IoT devices using proprietary protocols. The AP’s integrated, non-permanent external antennas are designed for challenging radio frequency (RF) environments.
- AP as a data processing solution: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series APs feature twice as much SDRAM and Flash memory than previous HPE models, enabling application-specific containers to run on the APs themselves, resulting in streamlined data transmissions and local processing of data for more rapid response to real-time conditions such as temperature or motion.
- Precision location services: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series APs are also the first to leverage the new Wi-Fi location standard, for improved location-aware services that deliver precision within one meter, for real-time, immersive, and industrial use cases, as well as support for the IEEE 802.11az standard to help enable self-location networks. Additional features include a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and a barometric sensor for floor-level mapping, which incorporate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.4 for bi-directional IoT location data that can boost user engagement and track valuable assets to reduce loss.
- Sustainability and energy savings: An AI-powered, dynamic power save mode helps lower energy footprint and costs for enterprises.
“With more than two decades of Wi-Fi innovation leadership, HPE Aruba Networking continues our commitment to delivering customers the reliable, secure, high-performance connectivity they need to meet their business objectives, which can range from immersive fan experiences to automated manufacturing processes,” said Stuart Strickland, wireless chief technology officer, HPE Aruba Networking. “Our Wi-Fi 7 APs go far beyond improvements in performance and efficiency to become an intelligent IoT hub, securing the network, distributing the workload, characterizing the environment, and providing a foundation for business and operational analytics.”
Wi-Fi 7, known technically as IEEE 802.11be, brings several significant improvements over its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6:
Higher Data Rates: Wi-Fi 7 is expected to offer significantly higher data rates, potentially up to 30 Gbps, which is nearly three times faster than Wi-Fi 6. This is achieved through more efficient use of spectrum, higher-level modulation schemes (4096-QAM), and increased bandwidth (up to 320 MHz).
Improved Latency: Wi-Fi 7 aims to reduce latency significantly, which is crucial for applications requiring real-time responses such as gaming, virtual reality, and video conferencing. Techniques like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allow devices to transmit data over multiple frequency bands simultaneously, reducing delay and improving reliability.
Greater Efficiency in High-Density Environments: With the growing number of devices per household and per enterprise, Wi-Fi 7 introduces enhancements that manage crowded networks more efficiently. Features like improved spatial reuse protocols help to minimize interference and manage airtime fairness better among multiple devices.
Enhanced Reliability: Wi-Fi 7 incorporates advanced technologies to improve signal reliability and resilience, even in environments prone to interference and physical obstructions. This includes more robust error correction and packet recovery mechanisms.
Increased Bandwidth and Spectrum Utilization: By supporting wider channels (up to 320 MHz) and additional spectrum in the 6 GHz band (on top of existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands), Wi-Fi 7 can handle more data simultaneously, providing a broader highway for information flow.
Backward Compatibility: Like previous Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 7 is designed to be backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, ensuring that new devices can still communicate with older ones without requiring a complete network overhaul.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO): This feature allows devices to use multiple Wi-Fi bands or channels simultaneously, which can boost throughput, balance traffic loads more efficiently, and enhance robustness against interference.
