I. Overview

MLO technology is redefining the reliability and efficiency of wireless connectivity. It expands the traditional single-lane Wi-Fi network into a multi-lane highway, ensuring that data packets always find the fastest path to their destination.

II. Network Congestion Dilemma

Limitations of Traditional Wi-Fi: Traditional Wi-Fi networks operate like a single-lane country road, where data can only be transmitted through one channel on one frequency band. This makes them inadequate for modern high-bandwidth applications. The main problem is that when the channel encounters interference, sudden high loads, or signal quality degradation, devices must wait or switch, causing instantaneous latency spikes, leading to user experience lag and application interruptions. With the explosive growth in the number of connected devices and data demand, network congestion has become the norm.

III. Core of MLO Technology

① Multi-Link Operation Technology

Allows wireless access points and terminal devices to simultaneously establish connections using multiple channels on different frequency bands. Devices can simultaneously establish and maintain multiple data links on different frequencies such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, completely breaking the traditional Wi-Fi limitation of "only one frequency band can be used at a time." Two main operating modes: Enhanced Single-Link Operation: Focuses on dynamic failover and path selection. True Multi-Link Operation: The pinnacle of MLO technology, allowing devices to simultaneously send and receive data on multiple links in parallel.

② Optimize Core Latency Mechanism

Parallel Transmission Capability: Through link aggregation, the data stream is divided into different data blocks, and multiple links are used for parallel transmission. Dynamic Path Optimization: When a link quality degradation is detected, data can be instantly and seamlessly switched to another high-quality link, significantly shortening the overall transmission time and achieving lower transmission latency.

③ Congestion Mitigation and Spectrum Resource Aggregation

Aggregating channels across different frequency bands, even discontinuous ones, to form a logically ultra-wide data channel. Wi-Fi 7 introduces a 320MHz ultra-wide channel in the 6GHz band, greatly expanding available bandwidth. MLO translates physical layer bandwidth advantages into more powerful system capacity, significantly improving the peak rate and transmission efficiency of individual devices.

IV. Application Scenarios and Technological Prospects

Application Potential

Smart Home, Industrial IoT, and Immersive Experience Fields: Cloud Gaming and VR/AR Devices: Extremely sensitive to network latency (more than 10 milliseconds can cause noticeable lag). Industrial IoT and Time-Sensitive Networking Applications: Require deterministic characteristics to ensure data arrives within a strictly defined time window.

Technological Advantages

Providing ultra-low latency and high stability through link aggregation; path redundancy and fast switching capabilities; providing extremely high reliability for mission-critical applications; suitable for critical scenarios such as automated production, robot collaboration, and security monitoring.