WiFi 7 is the next evolution of wireless connectivity, designed to support increasingly digital, device-dense environments. As the Living Sector’s adoption of smart building systems rapidly standardises, alongside resident expectations, many operators and developers are asking a practical question: is WiFi 7 more expensive to deploy?
The short answer is that deploying WiFi 7 technology in multi-tenant buildings today can introduce additional cost... but not with ASK4.
Here’s why...
Why WiFi 7 can cost more with some providers
Each new generation of WiFi introduces more advanced hardware and greater network complexity, which can increase hardware, deployment and operational costs. For many providers, adopting WiFi 7 requires new infrastructure, upgraded network components, and additional vendor licensing or integration overheads. This means that any new WiFi standard is often positioned as a premium upgrade for a period of time.
How ASK4 is delivering WiFi 7 without a price uplift
At ASK4, we have been working collaboratively with our vendors on product, pace and price. As a result, WiFi 7 has been engineered into ASK4’s network infrastructure roadmap as a baseline capability from day one, rather than a premium add-on. This has been made possible by three structural advantages.
Scale
ASK4’s scale within the Living Sector gives us the ability to achieve the best possible price position and long-term deployment certainty. This enables hardware and platform costs to be negotiated at scale, rather than on a project-by-project basis.
Open and flexible network architecture
ASK4’s investment in OpenWiFi and open network architectures provides flexibility in hardware selection, firmware control, and lifecycle management. This reduces long-term licensing and vendor lock-in costs that typically drive price increases.
Strategic vendor partnerships and co-engineering
ASK4 has worked with strategic technology partners to co-engineer WiFi 7 hardware optimised specifically for the high-density multi-tenant environments we serve. This approach reduces the need for costly enterprise-grade platforms that are not designed for Living Sector use cases.
As such, WiFi 7 will be delivered as standard within ASK4’s managed network infrastructure from Spring 2026, with no cost uplift compared to current WiFi 6 deployments.
What this means for operators and developers
For ASK4 clients, WiFi 7 is not a discretionary upgrade or a premium tier. It is part of a long-term infrastructure strategy designed to:
- Strengthen connectivity performance in multi-tenant environments
- Support increasing device density and digital services
- Meaningfully future-proof buildings for the next generation of resident technology today
- Provide a consistent and reliable baseline experience across entire portfolios
ASK4's initial WiFi 7 deployment focuses stability through optimised channel configurations for high-density environments, with advanced features like MLO planned for future phases, which is supported on this hardware infrastructure.
A New Standard for connectivity
WiFi 7 represents an evolution in how networks support modern living. The technology introduces capabilities that will become increasingly relevant as resident expectations, smart building system adoption, and digital services continue to expand.
ASK4 is embedding this evolution into its infrastructure model. The standard is changing. The price is not.
