Overcoming the Gigabit Barrier: Infrastructure for Modern Wi-Fi

Over the history of data transmission networks, many generations of technologies have come and gone, but one of them remained unshakeable for more than 15 years — Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T). Gigabit over twisted pair was the gold standard, a universal solution for most access tasks for both companies and regular users. The performance offered was usually described by the word "sufficient." Until recently.

In recent years, the situation has begun to change, and rapidly. Use cases emerged for which a single gigabit was no longer enough, such as high-performance workstations, NAS systems, and wireless networks. It is in the latter that this problem has become especially evident.

In this article, we will examine the transition to multi-gigabit in the context of Wi-Fi, specifically in the development of its enterprise essence: what is happening in the market, what options exist for modernizing access infrastructure to meet the needs of modern wireless networks, and what Eltex offers to address this.

Just 10 years ago, the very thought of Wi-Fi being faster than a wired connection would have brought a smile. Wireless networks were a compromise — convenient, mobile, but still slower than a cable. But this began to change.

In 2016, the second revision of the Wi-Fi 5 (Wave 2) standard was released, offering a theoretical throughput of up to 1.7 Gbps in the 5 GHz band. This was achieved through MU-MIMO technology and support for up to 160 MHz channel width, which, however, was implemented only in isolated products on the market. In practice, this yielded a maximum of 900 Mbps of real throughput under ideal conditions. For the first time, wireless communication came close to the gigabit barrier.

The turning point came with the adoption of the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard in 2019 and the start of mass production of devices based on it. New technologies (OFDMA, improved MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM) raised the theoretical throughput to 9.6 Gbps. In real-world deployments, access points using this standard can already deliver 2.5 Gbps or more.

In 2024, the Wi-Fi 7 standard was released, featuring even more new technologies. 2025 became the year when vendors began mass-producing devices based on it. The theoretical maximum is now 46 Gbps. The real performance of Wi-Fi 7 access points can range from 4–15 Gbps and even higher, depending on the technologies used.

By the way, we've written an article with lots of interesting information about the capabilities of Wi-Fi 7. We recommend reading it.

As you can see, the speeds offered by Wi-Fi 6 and 7 require a corresponding wired access infrastructure with performance exceeding 1 Gbps per connected device. And there's a certain nuance to this.

As we mentioned earlier, with the adoption of the last two Wi-Fi standards, the problem of infrastructure throughput became obvious. И Integrators and operators faced the issue that, when modernizing to Wi-Fi 6/6E and especially Wi-Fi 7, the access equipment installed in customer infrastructure no longer provided the necessary throughput. Growing demands for speed and client density are forcing an update not only of the wireless segment but also of the wired segment of the network.

Global practice clearly confirms this. Here is the data cited by the authoritative Dell’Oro Group in their recent 2Q 2025 Campus Ethernet Switch Report. For convenience, we will divide it into two blocks:

• “Part of the increase in market demand is down to Wi-Fi 7. All the enterprise class Wi-Fi 7 APs on the market connect at higher speeds than 1 Gbps. In 2Q 2025, there was a huge step up in the share of APs that need multi-gig ports. This is translating to renewals on the Campus Switch side.”
• “By 2027, the percentage of APs shipped to enterprises with multi-gig ports will rise to over 60% of the total APs shipped. The combined shipments of 2.5, 5 and 10 Gbps campus switch ports will grow by more 150% over the same period”.

What conclusions can be drawn from the above:

1. Sales of multi-gigabit access switches are growing synchronously with sales of Wi-Fi 6/7 access points. This points to a comprehensive approach to infrastructure modernization, where customers understand the need to simultaneously update all network components to achieve maximum efficiency.
2. Judging by the figures and the sharp growth in sales of both Wi-Fi access points and multi-gigabit access switches, most corporate customers are still using access networks with a throughput of 1 Gbps or less per connected device.
3. The predicted 150% growth in shipments (a 2.5-fold increase) over a three-year period indicates a mass transition, rather than isolated deployments in specific niche segments. Multi-gigabit is becoming mainstream, not an exotic choice for the few. It also speaks to a critical mass of accumulated throughput problems that can no longer be ignored or solved with half-measures.
4. The time horizon of 2–3 years to reach a 60% share of multi-gigabit ports in access points suggests that the shift away from gigabit will intensify.
5. The focus on speeds of 2.5, 5, and 10 Gbps demonstrates a practical market approach — solutions are chosen that provide the optimal balance of performance, cost, and compatibility.

All of this points to a shift in the dominant technological paradigm — a gradual yet rapid movement towards multi-gigabit solutions as the new standard for access.

Multi-gigabit is becoming not just "the answer to the challenges of new Wi-Fi," but a new technological reality. Just as Fast Ethernet once gave way to Gigabit Ethernet, we are now witnessing a similar transition. At the same time, intermediate options before the mass deployment of 10 gigabit, such as 2.5GBASE-T, are of particular interest. They are seen as promising for the transitional period.

In the following sections, we will explore why multi-gigabit speeds are becoming the "sweet spot" for most enterprise network modernization scenarios in the coming years.

The first thought that comes to mind is: if a gigabit isn't enough, let's just install 10-Gigabit copper ports right away. It's future-proof for years to come, problem solved. But when you start looking into this, it turns out that this "path" is expensive and, in many cases, entirely impractical. Why?

First, for 10GBASE-T to work, you need Category 6A or 7 cable. What is laid in the majority of buildings constructed over the last ten to fifteen years? Correct, Category 5e or 6 cables*. This amounts to hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers of cable in walls, ceilings, and cable trays. To replace all of this means tearing open half the building, halting operations, and spending a lot of money. For a large business center or manufacturing plant, this could drag on for months.

*Category 6 can be used for 10 Gbps transmission with limitations.

Second, there's the issue of cost and redundancy for most tasks. A 10GBASE-T port on a switch costs three to four times more than a gigabit port. Moreover, if, for example, an access point needs 2.5 gigabits but is connected to a 10-gigabit port, it's an inefficient use of throughput: you are overpaying for speed that won't be utilized. Multiply this by 48 ports on a switch, across dozens of switches in a network — and the difference in the cost of ownership becomes quite significant.

It turns out that jumping directly from 1G to 10G is either extremely expensive, technically impossible without major reconstruction, or simply not cost-effective in most cases at the moment.

It turns out that jumping directly from 1G to 10G is either extremely expensive, technically impossible without major reconstruction, or simply not cost-effective in most cases at the moment.

The question of intermediate Ethernet speeds already arose in 2014. At that time, there was the Gigabit standard 1000BASE-T and the 10-Gigabit standard 10GBASE-T. The gap in performance level between them was too wide, and the telecommunications industry understood this.

To solve the problem, alliances of the largest telecom manufacturers were formed: NBASE-T Alliance (later renamed the Ethernet Alliance) and MGBASE-T Alliance. They promoted Ethernet technologies for data transmission over unshielded twisted pair at speeds of 2.5 and 5 Gbps, which became the answer to the already announced Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 standard and the looming Wi-Fi 6. In 2016, the alliances' developments were adopted by the IEEE association and codified in the industry standard IEEE 802.3bz.

The main advantage of the promoted speeds of 2.5 and 5 Gbps was the support for operating over existing cable infrastructure of Category 5e and 6, which is still functional in the majority of offices. Here's what is written about this: "…there are over 70 billion meters of Ethernet cabling infrastructure based on Cat 5e and Cat 6 UTP cables in use worldwide. This is 90% of the entire installed base. Therefore, the ratification of the [IEEE 802.3bz] standard was positively received by the IT industry."

There's no need to redo anything, tear walls open, or lay new cables. During modernization, only the active equipment changes (switches and access points), and the network starts running many times faster, providing a performance reserve for several years ahead.

When discussing access switches in the context of Wi-Fi, the topic of power is often forgotten. And yet, this is no less important than port speed for the functioning of access points, especially those installed far from power outlets on ceilings or walls. Multi-gigabit standards support PoE standards, up to the 90-watt UPoE, for transmitting both data and power over a single cable. This means you can power modern Wi-Fi 6/7 access points and other power-hungry equipment.

Summary:

• As seen, the multi-gigabit standards 2.5 and 5 Gbps are not a temporary compromise, but a logical stage in the evolution of Ethernet, dictated by real market needs.
• The relevance of these standards at the access level is maintained and will grow for several reasons. Firstly, they work on existing Category 5e and 6 cables, which currently prevail globally. Secondly, the support for PoE up to 90W allows powering not only powerful access points but also the growing fleet of IoT devices, 4K PTZ cameras, and interactive panels, expanding their application.
• The throughput of 2.5–5 Gbps is optimal for real market needs. The 2.5G and 5G standards, and potentially 10G in the future, give companies the ability to get the necessary performance here and now without excessive investment. This is why multi-gigabit is becoming the de facto new standard, especially in corporate access networks. The trend of adoption is clearly visible in global tendencies.

When developing equipment for wireless networks, it is impossible to ignore the issue of wired infrastructure. The access point is only half of the solution — the part that is visible and understandable to the end user. The second half is the access infrastructure, which provides the Wi-Fi equipment with network connectivity and power supply.

Wi-Fi 6

At Eltex, we have formed an extensive lineup of Wi-Fi 6 equipment for various tasks—for offices, outdoor and industrial use, and for creating FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) connections. You can explore their capabilities in the solution on our website.

In parallel with the development of Wi-Fi 6 devices, we began to expand our lineup of MES multi-gigabit access switches with 2.5 Gbps ports. Thus, the user receives a complete set of products and can increase the Wi-Fi speed in their network using their current cabling infrastructure, by replacing only the active equipment.

The catalog features multi-gigabit switches of the MES series in various configurations: from 8 to 24 2.5 Gbps ports, with and without support for PoE+/PoE++ (UPoE).

Wi-Fi 7

While some are only just beginning the mass transition to Wi-Fi 6, we are already preparing for the next generation. Access points based on the Wi-Fi 7 standard are currently under development.

Soon, models featuring Wi-Fi 7 will appear in the Eltex wireless equipment lineup. We have already announced two indoor access point models, the WEP-500K and WEP-550K, which will be launched into production by the end of this year.

Naturally, for such devices, 2.5-gigabit ports will become the same bottleneck that gigabit ports are for Wi-Fi 6 today. Therefore, in parallel with Wi-Fi 7 access points, we are developing a new generation of access switches with 10GBASE-T support. For example, the hybrid access and aggregation model MES2310-12XU, which features twelve copper 10 Gbps PoE++ ports and four optical 25 Gbps ports.

The same principles are being applied to the Wi-Fi 7 solution as to the Wi-Fi 6 solution: comprehensiveness, where wireless and wired equipment perfectly complement each other.

How we view the modernization path

Today the company installs Wi-Fi 6 access points and multi-gigabit switches with 2.5 Gbps ports from Eltex. This utilizes the existing Category 5e or 6 cabling infrastructure. No construction work is needed, and the solution launch time is minimal.

Tomorrow — When there is a need for greater performance, it will be possible to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 models and switches with 10 Gbps ports. If Category 6 cabling is already laid, that's excellent, it is suitable for 10GBASE-T with some distance limitations (up to 55 meters). If not, it can be updated gradually, section by section, as needed. This phased approach offers flexibility in budget planning and allows the network to be modernized according to real needs.

Multi-gigabit speeds at the access level are neither a distant prospect nor a trendy niche for the select few. It is happening right now. Wi-Fi 6 is already being deployed everywhere, and Wi-Fi 7 is entering the market. More data is being transmitted, and applications are becoming more demanding. The gigabit port, which served faithfully for almost twenty years, is hitting its physical limit.

Multi-Gigabit Ethernet is a sensible balance between the needs of today and investment in the future. It is elegant, economically justified, and technically mature. It is a transition technology in the best sense of the word, one that allows network performance to grow gradually. Those who implement multi-gigabit solutions now are not just solving the Wi-Fi problem with new standards and other demanding tasks. They are building an infrastructure that will be ready for new performance challenges.

Eltex has the answer for current and future needs, which will soon become obvious. Our complex of equipment, ranging from the Wi-Fi 6 devices and 2.5G switches working today to the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 and 10G access infrastructure, is not just a set of products. It is a path for network development where every step is logical, every investment is justified, and the result is predictable.