Back to School: WiFi 7 Gets A+

Residents are increasingly aware that having high-speed fiber internet and the latest WiFi tech at home isn’t just “nice-to-have” for their school-age children. To keep up academically, collaborate effectively, and correctly deploy the digital learning tools they’re expected to use in their coursework, internet speed and reliability matters.

Increasingly, schools are giving their students sophisticated learning tools that allow interactive learning and that even incorporate AI. These apps require tremendous speed and bandwidth. Fiber internet and WiFi 7 can help ensure these digital tools work quickly and smoothly whenever students need them.

Limited or unreliable internet access can put school kids at a disadvantage. And parents are paying attention when evaluating where they live. Multifamily investors and managers would do well to adopt a forward-thinking attitude when deciding what kind of internet access technologies to install or upgrade for their community.

In 2024, 82% of families and 80% of educators declared that fast home internet is extremely important, especially for K-12 students.

A global study uncovered the fact that elementary and secondary students limited to slower 3G mobile internet access was correlated to lower test scores. In effect, students with slower connections were losing the equivalent of one fourth of a school year.

What is WiFi 7 and what benefits does it offer MDUs?

When pairing fiber internet with the latest WiFi 7 technology, residents can prepare children with digital access to help them excel at academic performance. It’s faster, handles more devices simultaneously, and suffers from less lag (delay) compared to earlier versions of WiFi (WiFi 5 and WiFi 6).

Compared to earlier versions, WiFi 7 has:

• Less congestion: Handles lots of household devices at the same time.
• Better coverage: Stronger, more stable signal accessible even through walls and floors than WiFi 6.
• Future-ready: Great for 4K and 8K streaming, homes that will only get “smarter”.

WiFi 7’s ability to handle numerous frequencies enables residents to choose from a huge ecosystem of compatible devices. The fact that WiFi equipment is plug-and-play means residents can instantly connect printers, laptops, tablets, and educational gadgets without tech know-how.

Parents can control smart lighting, thermostats, and voice assistants in study areas, creating distraction-free, comfortable learning areas for their children. Smart WiFi home-equipment enables parents to easily set screen-time limits, block distractions such as games and social media, and filter inappropriate content. Bedtime can be a breeze with devices being set to disconnect from the WiFi until a set time each day.

Start the school year strong and raise residential satisfaction.

Installing or upgrading a community to fiber internet, paired with WiFi 7 equipment, is a win-win for both multifamily investors, managers, home builders, and developers. Long-lasting reliable fiber is future-proof, enabling building infrastructure upgrades without excessive expense or disruption. And since WiFi 7 is backwards compatible with previous WiFi generations, residents don’t need to upgrade their current devices to take advantage of it.

Although not yet mainstream, WiFi 7 is today already being installed in homes and apartment communities across the country. Quantum Fiber, a Lumen Technologies brand, has been spearheading this trend.

Tailored solutions by Quantum Fiber Connected Communities expert engineers are designed for WiFi 7 coverage for both fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-unit communities.

Check out these related resources:

• The Top 3 Internet Features Modern Multifamily Properties Need for a Premium Internet Amenity
• How the leap to WiFi 7 can enrich next-gen community living
• Why Apartment Owners Should Know the Tech Driving Their Building’s Internet