Planning Wi-Fi 7 in the office: how many access points for 50 employees and how to place them

A common challenge in office IT infrastructure is ensuring reliable and high-speed Wi-Fi coverage without dead zones or performance bottlenecks. For an office with 50 employees, simply installing a few access points often leads to inconsistent connectivity, especially with the increasing demand for bandwidth from modern devices and applications.

From Softline IT’s experience, the key mistake at this stage is underestimating the impact of physical environment and user density on Wi-Fi performance. Proper planning for Wi-Fi 7 deployment goes beyond just buying the latest hardware; it involves a detailed site survey and strategic placement of access points.

Understanding Wi-Fi 7 capabilities for business

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, also known as Extremely High Throughput or EHT) brings significant advancements over previous generations, particularly relevant for dense office environments. Its key features include wider channels, 4096-QAM modulation, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO).

These enhancements translate into higher throughput, lower latency, and improved capacity to handle multiple concurrent devices. For a 50-employee office, this means smoother video conferencing, faster file transfers, and a more responsive user experience, even during peak usage times. However, these benefits are only realized with correct deployment.

Determining the number of access points for 50 users

The number of access points (APs) needed is not a simple calculation based solely on employee count. It depends heavily on the office layout, construction materials, and the types of applications used. A general guideline for a typical open-plan office with 50 employees might involve 3-5 Wi-Fi 7 APs. However, this number can vary significantly.

• Office area and layout: Larger spaces or offices with many internal walls, cubicles, or separate rooms will require more APs to ensure adequate signal penetration.
• Construction materials: Concrete walls, metal studs, and even large filing cabinets can attenuate Wi-Fi signals. A site survey identifies these obstructions.
• Device density and usage: While there are 50 employees, each might have multiple devices (laptop, smartphone, tablet). If many users frequently stream video or conduct video calls, more APs are needed to distribute the load.
• Application requirements: Real-time applications like VoIP and video conferencing are sensitive to latency and require robust coverage.

A professional site survey using specialized tools is critical. This involves physically walking through the office space, taking measurements, and identifying potential interference sources. This process determines the optimal number and placement of APs to achieve desired coverage and performance levels.

Strategic placement of Wi-Fi 7 access points

Effective AP placement is crucial for maximizing Wi-Fi 7’s benefits and ensuring seamless roaming. Improper placement can lead to interference, dead zones, and reduced performance, even with the latest hardware.

• Centralized location: APs should ideally be placed in a central location within their intended coverage area, away from obstructions like metal objects or thick walls.
• Height and orientation: Mounting APs on ceilings at a uniform height (e.g., 2.5-3 meters) typically provides the best omnidirectional coverage. For directional antennas, specific orientation may be required.
• Minimizing interference: Avoid placing APs near sources of electromagnetic interference, such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, or large electrical equipment. Consider channel planning to reduce co-channel interference between adjacent APs.
• Overlap for roaming: Ensure there is sufficient signal overlap (typically 15-20%) between adjacent APs to facilitate smooth roaming for users moving throughout the office. This prevents dropped connections during transitions.
• Power over Ethernet (PoE): Utilize PoE-enabled switches to power APs, simplifying installation and reducing cabling complexity. This allows for greater flexibility in placement without needing nearby power outlets.

Integrating Wi-Fi 7 with corporate network infrastructure

Deploying Wi-Fi 7 is not just about the access points; it requires a robust wired backbone and proper network segmentation. High-speed multi-gigabit Ethernet cabling (e.g., Cat6A or fiber) is essential to support the increased throughput of Wi-Fi 7 APs. Without it, the wireless network will be bottlenecked by the wired connection.

VLAN segmentation is critical for security and network management. This allows for separating corporate traffic from guest access, and potentially segmenting departments or specific device types. Quality of Service (QoS) configurations on switches and APs can prioritize critical traffic like voice and video, ensuring a smooth experience for IP telephony and video conferencing.

Centralized Wi-Fi controllers or cloud-managed solutions are highly recommended for managing multiple APs. They simplify configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, and enable features like seamless roaming, guest portal management, and robust security policies.

Before investing in Wi-Fi 7 hardware, conduct a thorough assessment of your existing wired network infrastructure. Ensure your switches support multi-gigabit Ethernet and have sufficient PoE budget for the new APs. Plan for adequate cabling upgrades if necessary. Define your security and segmentation requirements, and consider how Wi-Fi 7 will integrate with your existing corporate antivirus and information security policies. Engaging with a system integrator early in the planning phase can help ensure all aspects of the network are considered for a successful Wi-Fi 7 deployment.