By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
At CES this week Intel launched its extended family of AI PC processor platforms – the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 – and the entire product line now comes with Wi-Fi 7 capabilities integrated into the silicon. Starting this month any Intel vPro-branded AI PC will come with Wi-Fi 7 which – Intel says – is ‘perfect timing’ as businesses across the world are on the fast track to upgrading enterprise infrastructure to Wi-Fi 7.
Intel took its first decisive step into the world of the AI PC in September of last year (read more here) with the release of the Intel Core Ultra 200V platform, which includes integrated Wi-Fi 7. At CES this year Intel is expanding the Intel Core Ultra platform portfolio from two to five models (all with integrated Wi-Fi 7) – but most importantly for businesses, new Intel vPro-branded PCs will now feature Wi-Fi 7, which means the floodgates have opened for Wi-Fi 7 adoption.
WiFi NOW estimates that Intel vPro PCs represent some 70-80% of the business PC market. With the first new Intel vPro PCs available for purchase starting late this month, the use of Wi-Fi 7 connectivity within the enterprise is expected to surge during 1H2025. Meanwhile, the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 combined with AI are so significant that the shift to the new standard is transformational, Intel says. Add to this that the timing is perfect.
“We’re talking about the perfect storm of Wi-Fi 7 adoption because all the major enterprise AP vendors already having released Wi-Fi 7-capable infrastructure within the past months. With the new Wi-Fi 7-capable vPro platform, businesses are now ready to take a leap into a new world where exceptional connectivity combines perfectly with AI applications. It’s a shift to a level of productivity never before seen,” says Carlos Aguirre, Senior Director of Wireless Marketing at Intel.
Intel says its Wi-Fi 7 is five times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and delivers up to 60% lower latency at up to 5 Gbps peak data rates. “More important than the peak rate is that business users will experience gigabit connectivity in many more places. In many cases, a 2 minute 4k video will download in 9 seconds with Wi-Fi 7. Compare that to 39 seconds with Wi-Fi 6. It’s really a big shift,” he says.
Intel also says that in many ways, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity is a prerequisite for the true AI PC experience. “Premium connectivity is needed to leverage AI PC resources for local AI output – for example for sharing and collaboration – as well as for complex Cloud and hybrid AI workloads. Of course Intel vPro PCs continue to include the Intel Connectivity Performance Suite software, which in itself is an AI-based network optimisation application. ICPS includes smart access point selection, traffic prioritisation, an advanced connection manager, and more,” Carlos Aguirre says.
Meanwhile, Intel continues to expand its collaboration with partners across all parts of the Wi-Fi ecosystem, including – for example – enterprise Wi-Fi market leader Cisco. “Intel Wi-Fi 7 clients are tested for interoperability against nearly all AP vendors in our lab, but we also nurture special relationships with ecosystem players who are particularly important for the success of enterprise Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Cisco, Extreme Networks, Ambeen, and Wyebot are all current partners in our Intel Connectivity Analytics program, for example,” he says.
For more don’t miss Intel speaking at Wi-Fi World Congress USA 2025 in Mountain View, California, on April 29. For details on how Wi-Fi 7 is transforming the connected experience at work, see below.
/Claus.
