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TP-Link Unveils New Router Range Featuring Wi-Fi 7
The company’s latest generation of routers include the $700 Archer BE900 quad-band router and an upcoming gaming model known as the GE800.
Despite most of us not having purchased our first Wi-Fi 6-enabled device, TP-Link has jumped the gun and released a range of Wi-Fi 7 routers based on the upcoming IEEE specification. The company is currently revamping its entire product line, including its flagship Archer router models, the Deco home mesh network devices, and its business-focused offerings.
Wi-Fi 7 offers faster speeds and reduced latency compared to previous iterations and allows devices to connect to two spectrums simultaneously (5Ghz and 6Ghz) using Multi-Link Operation (MLO). Like past generations, Wi-Fi 7 devices will be able to connect to older versions of the technology, but to enjoy the fastest speeds, you’ll need the same Wi-Fi 7 spec at each end.
Archer BE900
The first of the new TP-Link devices is the quad-band Archer BE900, which features a touchscreen that can show the time, weather, wireless stats, and emojis. OpenVPN is supported and a private IoT network for smart devices, with speeds of up to 24Gbps achievable — double that of the outgoing models.
As for connectivity, the BE900 offers an SFP+Fiber WAN option and an additional 10Gb WAN port, as well as four 2.5G ethernet ports. TP-Link says the BE900 “will be available for preorder starting December 31st and will ship in the first quarter of 2023, priced at $699.”
BE800 & BE550
Moving down the range, we find the new tri-band BE800 model, which can achieve 19Gbps wireless speeds and supports 10Gb internet services. The model retains the Archer BE900’s LED lights but ditches the touchscreen. Below that model sits the BE550, which features speeds of 9.3Gbps with 2.5Gbps ethernet ports. According to TP-Link, “Both these models are EasyMesh-capable and ready to create a wider-reaching home network.”
GE800
Gamers will likely be most interested in the tri-band Archer GE800 Gaming router, which features an app-powered Game Panel that can prioritize gaming traffic above other network data, and a dual-tower antenna design. The model supports 19Gbps Wi-Fi 7 speeds, with two 10Gb ethernet ports, two 2.5Gb ports, plus four gigabit ports. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but the router is expected to land in either Q1 or Q2 2023.
Deco BE95, BE85 & BE65
The new Deco range of home mesh routers has also been announced by TP-Link, with speeds ranging from 33Gbps to 11Gbps, and prices climbing all the way to $1,199.99 for the top model. The devices will be released sometime in Q1 or Q2 of 2023, with the company claiming that they will enable enthusiasts to create “the industry’s fastest mesh system.”
TP-Link has pulled out all the stops with this upcoming Wi-Fi 7 line of devices, even updating the tech in its new enterprise-based Omada access points and cellular 5G routers. If you’re an enthusiastic early adopter, you’ll only need to wait until early 2023 to experience a taste of the fastest Wi-Fi speeds out there.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.