COMPARISON OF MULTI-CHANNEL ACCESS MODES IN THE IEEE 802.11BE NETWORK

Abstract

The article showcases the technical capabilities of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard (802.11be), particularly focusing on the implementation of multi-link operation (MLO) technology to enhance bandwidth, reduce latency, and improve overall network efficiency. The study delves into the fundamental principles of MLO and its role in optimizing wireless communication by enabling devices to simultaneously utilize multiple frequency bands for data transmission.

A detailed examination of the operational modes of multi-link devices is provided, including the Multi-Link Single Radio (MLSR) and Multi-Link Multi-Radio (MLMR) architectures. Furthermore, the paper introduces and analyzes the enhanced versions of these architectures, namely Enhanced Multi-Link Single Radio (EMLSR) and Enhanced Multi-Link Multi-Radio (EMLMR), highlighting their improvements in network stability, interference mitigation, and throughput efficiency. The study also discusses specific data transmission features that make Wi-Fi 7 a significant advancement over its predecessors.

To assess the real-world performance of Wi-Fi 7 networks, the research incorporates simulation-based evaluations of network performance under various configurations involving multi-link transmission and competing devices. These simulations investigate key performance metrics, such as throughput, latency, and packet delivery efficiency, under different levels of network congestion and interference.

Results from these simulations underscore the benefits of multi-channel access in scenarios requiring high performance and minimal latency, such as gaming, video streaming, and enterprise-level networking. The study concludes that the adoption of Wi-Fi 7 and MLO technology has the potential to significantly enhance wireless networking capabilities, paving the way for a more robust and responsive internet experience in high-demand environments.