Wi-Fi 7 brings transformative potential to industrial environments, promising ultra-fast and low-latency connectivity that can supercharge smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and AI-powered automation.
But for many organizations, the promise meets reality with frustration. At manufacturing sites, legacy infrastructure and rushed deployments frequently lead to performance issues, unexpected downtime, and poor returns on technology investments.
Here are the three most common and costly mistakes observed in Wi-Fi 7 rollouts within industrial settings—and how to fix them.
Systems Engineer at IDS-INDATA.
Mistake 1: Treating the Wired Backbone as an Afterthought
Despite Wi-Fi 7’s impressive capabilities, its performance is only as strong as the IT infrastructure it runs on. Many facilities continue to operate with outdated switches and Cat5 cabling—equipment that cannot handle the high-throughput demands of Wi-Fi 7.
This mismatch throttles even the most advanced access points, turning what should be a leap in connectivity into a bottleneck.
Impact: Critical operations such as automated production lines and AI-based quality control suffer, undermining the ROI of broader digital transformation efforts.
Mistake 2: Overlooking Power Requirements in Harsh Environments
Wi-Fi 7 access points, especially those designed for industrial use, typically require Power over Ethernet (PoE) Plus (802.3bt). However, many industrial sites lack compatible switchgear or fail to provide reliable power in harsh conditions.
Without proper provisioning, access points may underperform or fail, resulting in coverage gaps, increased hardware costs, and delays in deploying innovative technologies.
Complication: The challenge is amplified by the need for ruggedized, high-power units capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, dust, or vibration.
Mistake 3: Neglecting RF Complexity and 6 GHz Planning
Industrial environments are notoriously hostile to wireless signals. Metal structures, machinery, and dense concrete create a challenging RF landscape.
Wi-Fi 7’s use of 6 GHz spectrum and 320 MHz channels magnifies the complexity, demandi