Wi-Fi 7 is the latest wireless standard, but what makes the GFiber experience different? This Q&A guide is for current customers and those considering GFiber multi-gig service who want a technical breakdown of the new features of GFiber's premium, custom-engineered, multi-gig hardware product. 

What new features does Wi-Fi 7 have?

We designed this GFiber hardware from the ground up, so you know we included all the heavy-hitting features:

• MLO (Multi-Link Operation): This is a new Wi-Fi 7 technology. We’ve  enabled MLO between the router and the mesh extender by default, which means you can get multi-gig speeds from the far side of your home over Wi-Fi. We’ll enable it for customer devices soon, but that’s not ready for primetime yet.

• 320 MHz channels: Creates a bigger, wider lane on the data highway, allowing a massive amount of information to move much faster and give you quicker loading and higher capacity.

• 4K QAM: Efficiently packs more data into every Wi-Fi signal, which boosts network speed and performance for a faster, more fluid experience, particularly for streaming video.

• 6 GHz band: This band is a new, wide-open lane that newer devices can use to bypass the traffic on the older 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, leading to a clearer and more reliable connection.

Can I use my own router (or do you support “Bridge mode”)?

We generally recommend using the GFiber Wi-Fi equipment since we custom-engineered it for the GFiber network to optimize the quality of service and your overall experience, but the short answer is yes. Customers can plug their own router directly into the Fiber Jack (ONT) and start using it right away. And you don’t need to enable Bridge mode in the GFiber app! You can simply start using your own router anytime you’d like. You can learn more about using your own router here.

What are the Wi-Fi 7 router port speeds (2.5G vs 10G)?

Few routers have as plentiful a port configuration as GFiber. Our Wi-Fi 7  router includes:

• One 10 gig WAN port (connects to the Fiber Jack)

• One 10 gig LAN port (great for a switch or high-end PC)

• Three 2.5 gig LAN ports

Does Wi-Fi 7 improve latency or gaming performance?

Yes, absolutely. Specifically, thanks to Multi-Resource Units (smarter traffic flow for optimized use of bandwidth) and MLO, you’ll experience near-zero lag even in homes full of devices getting online all at once. Being able to send data across multiple bands simultaneously results in a significant reduction in latency compared to Wi-Fi 6 or 6E, which makes a real difference for cloud gaming, or real-time apps where jitter matters.

Why should anyone get the Edge 8 Gig service?

Edge 8 Gig isn’t for everybody. For typical needs like browsing and streaming, you won’t feel a big difference compared to Home 3 Gig. But Edge 8 Gig is a dramatic change-maker for high-usage customers or those wanting the added peace of mind provided by the battery backup[1] and uptime guarantee.[2] Creative professionals (photographers, editors, content creators, etc.) moving gigs of video files, software developers, home based businesses, remote tech professionals, pro gamers, or homes with multiple gamers downloading massive updates simultaneously will all see major upsides with Edge 8 Gig. It’s about the time-to-complete. For gamers in particular, you can download a 100 gig game update in minutes rather than hours. It’s overkill for some, but it absolutely comes in handy when you need it. We’re continuing to test 20 Gig with Wi-Fi 7, and the use cases from those customers have been really interesting to see.

In addition, for our Edge 8 Gig and Business 2 Gig customers, GFiber backs its service with a 99.9% reliability Uptime Guarantee Agreement (UGA). See Uptime Guarantee for Details

Why isn’t Wi-Fi 7 available with our Core 1 Gig service?

It’s about matching the right hardware to the right product. Wi-Fi 6E is still incredibly capable for speed. We prioritized Wi-Fi 7 for Home 3 Gig and Edge 8 Gig because those are the products where the previous Wi-Fi equipment generation was actually limiting the wireless performance and preventing in-home networks from fully reaching  multi-gig speeds over Wi-Fi. We’re always evaluating our hardware to ensure we match the product to the right device to ensure we deliver the best wireless experience in your home.

Is Wi-Fi 7 actually useful right now? Which devices can use it?

That’s a fair question to ask right now. But the short answer is yes, it’s useful for a couple of key reasons:

• The devices are here: Most, if not all, smartphones and computers made in 2025 or later have the Wi-Fi 7 chipset. Additionally, starting with the Pixel 8, Galaxy S24, and iPhone 16 lineups, many new devices already support it. If you upgrade your phone or laptop soon, you’ll be glad your Wi-Fi is ready for the future.

• Performance and congestion management even with older gen devices: Even if you have Wi-Fi 6 or 6E devices and not Wi-Fi 7, the router’s increased capacity and backhaul improvements (especially with mesh extenders) make your entire network more stable, even with dozens of devices online. We’ve even seen older devices (Wi-Fi 6 or older) perform better at a distance when connected to the Wi-Fi 7 network compared to older-generation routers.[3]

If you're curious to learn more, check out our helpful Wi-Fi calculator.

Is this using an XGS-PON network?

Our multi-gig products, including those with Wi-Fi 7, run on our XGS-PON network architecture. This infrastructure is what allows us to deliver symmetrical multi-gig speeds.

Will existing multi-gig customers be upgraded to Wi-Fi 7?

If you’re a current customer upgrading to the Edge 8 Gig product, you’ll get the new Wi-Fi 7 router automatically. If you already have a multi-gig product (like Home 3 Gig or Edge 8 Gig) with a Wi-Fi 6E router, call or chat with our customer support team and they’ll be glad to get you upgraded to Wi-Fi 7. 

Can multi-gig get oversubscribed (i.e. if a whole neighborhood is taking 8 Gig won’t they see slowdowns during peak hours)?

Our network engineering team plans for this when deploying, or upgrading a network. If you’re being offered a GFiber product, rest assured the network is capable of supporting it.

What’s the firmware update schedule?

We’ve been rolling out 3-4 firmware updates a year for the router,  including optimizations, new features, fixes and security patches. We gather feedback from several sources: direct from call and chat interactions, app reviews, online forums, and other customer feedback channels. Many of the suggestions we’ve received have already influenced our product roadmap. So please keep the feedback coming.

How does GFiber’s Wi-Fi 7 compare to other providers’ offerings?

What’s special about GFiber’s Wi-Fi 7 isn't just the spec sheet of our custom engineered equipment; it's our business model. We include this hardware (valued up to $1,699 for a mesh setup) standard with the service. We don't charge a monthly rental fee, a tech support fee, or make you sign a contract to get it. [4] 

Does Wi-Fi 7 force WPA3 (Will this break my older smart home devices, or IoT)?

We considered this possibility and did thorough testing before launch. As a result, our router defaults 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to WPA2 and offers WPA3 transition should you want it. As you may already know, 6 GHz must be on WPA3 per the IEEE standard. This default setup ensures your IoT devices, printers, and EV chargers stay connected while your newer, high-performance devices can take advantage of 6 GHz and the latest security with WPA3. If you want to change security, you can toggle on 'WPA3 Transition Mode' in the GFiber app. This allows newer devices to use WPA3 on the lower bands while still letting older devices connect via WPA2.

What’s the real-world throughput on Wi-Fi 7?

We’re already seeing customers clock in over 3 Gbps using Wi-Fi 7, and Ookla speed tests are a great way to verify your device’s connection speed. The true speed benefit we’re seeing is the mesh extender using MLO backhaul with the router.[5] This is letting devices connected to the extender tap into 4 Gbps of bandwidth without running a wire through your attic or crawlspace. This means your gaming setup, connected to the mesh extender, can access maximum speeds without worrying about spotty Wi-Fi. Physics still applies (things like walls, distance, and device capability matter), but it’s a significant difference over the roughly 1.6 Gbps max we saw with Wi-Fi 6E.

Does Wi-Fi 7 hardware support mesh?

Yes, it does. The router works with our Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Extender. We use MLO for the wireless backhaul between the router and extender, which significantly improves speed and reliability compared to previous generations. Note that third-party access points (APs) or GFiber’s Wi-Fi 6E equipment aren’t compatible with the Wi-Fi 7 hardware.

Can I downgrade after upgrading?

Yes, you're welcome to downgrade at any time to a product currently offered at the time of your downgrade.

Are there data caps on multi-gig?

Never. We don't do data caps on any of our products.

Core 1 Gig has been $70 a month since 2012.[6] We don’t waste your time with short term discounts or complicated offers. In fact, we’ve done the opposite of what everyone expects from an ISP. In Des Moines, for example, we recently automatically upgraded 2 Gig customers to Home 3 Gig when we rolled out the faster product for the same price. We keep our pricing simple and stable, focusing on giving customers more value for the same price. The price you see (like $100 for 3 Gig, or $150 for 8 Gig) is the price you pay. We want to earn your loyalty.

Is the hardware actually custom, or is this just a rebranded generic router?

It is fully custom-engineered. We worked with a global hardware leader to build the GFiber Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 7 Router specifically to maximize your in-home Wi-Fi and wired experience with your GFiber network. Most retail mesh systems at this price point max out at 1 gig or maybe one 2.5 gig port. We designed this with a 10 gig WAN port (to handle the full fiber speed), a 10 gig LAN port, and three 2.5 gig LAN ports that let power customers push the network to the limit.

Does it support 6 GHz backhaul?

Yes, and it’s actually smarter than just a static 6 GHz backhaul. The router and mesh extender use Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for the backhaul link. Instead of relying on a single band (like just 6 GHz), MLO allows them to transmit data across multiple bands (like 5 GHz and 6 GHz) simultaneously. This means that even if you’re in a back bedroom connected to the extender, you can still get true multi-gig performance.

Can I self-install this?

For many customers, the answer will be yes. If your home already has a compatible 10 Gig Fiber Jack installed, you are eligible for a Self-Install Kit (SIK). In that case, we’ll send your kit for free within 1-3 business days, and you can use the GFiber app to guide you through the setup. If you don’t have the 10 Gig Fiber Jack yet, or if your home setup is complicated, we’ll send a technician to professionally install and optimize the network for you—at no extra cost.

Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual internet, Wi-Fi speeds, and Wi-Fi coverage are not guaranteed and can vary based on factors such as home or business size and layout, construction materials, hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.

[1] Provides up to 2 hours of power for your primary point of internet connection during a power outage. Will not power extenders. May not function in a serious or widespread outage that also affects centralized networking facilities. Only available for Home 3 Gig customers ($10/mo) and Edge 8 Gig customers (included). Plans and Reliability Plus features may not be available in all locations. Please check your address at gfiber.com to see available speeds and options for your area.

[2] Uptime Guarantee: Conditions Apply. See Uptime Guarantee for details. 

[3] Wi-Fi 7 improvements: Compared to Wi-Fi 6 according to third-party testing.

[4] Retail value based on price of router plus two extenders. Not all homes qualify for extenders. Customers canceling service will have to pay a replacement fee (including any applicable taxes) if they fail to return equipment within 60 days after cancellation. 

[5] 10x more capacity compared to Wi-Fi 6 when utilizing a mesh extender. Not all customers are eligible to receive an extender with service.

[6] Plus local access fee where applicable, 100% of which goes back to your municipality.