Starting in early 2025, Highlands Fiber Network will begin upgrading our community with a new fiber network that offers even faster speeds. While a project of this size will take time, we will upgrade the community in phases, giving residents access to speeds up to 2.5× faster—at no extra cost—reaching up to 2.5 Gigs (2,500 Mbps).
To get the most out of these faster speeds, the Wi-Fi router you use at home makes a big difference. Wi-Fi determines how much of your fiber internet speed reaches your devices. Even with the fastest fiber internet, an older router can slow things down, preventing your devices from reaching their full potential, and preventing you from fully experiencing the benefits of your fiber connection.
New Wi-Fi router options will soon be available from HFN to help you get the best performance from your upgraded internet. Let’s explore how Wi-Fi has evolved and how our new router options can help you make the most of our 2.5× speed upgrades.
The Evolution of Wi-Fi Technology
When Wi-Fi first launched in 1997, it initially offered limited speeds between 1 and 11 Mbps, which were sufficient for simple tasks at the time. Fast forward to today, and we’re talking about multi-gig speeds on Wi-Fi. Each new version of Wi-Fi has improved from the last, raising the maximum speed for users and providing more options
and coverage.
- Wi-Fi 1-3: The earliest Wi-Fi versions were good for basic tasks like browsing and emailing, with speeds ranging from 1 Mbps to 54 Mbps.
- Wi-Fi 4: This brought a big upgrade, with speeds up to 600 Mbps, better coverage, and support for more devices on the same network.
- Wi-Fi 5: Wi-Fi 5 introduced speeds up to 3.46 Gbps, making it perfect for smooth video streaming and less buffering.
- Wi-Fi 6 and 6E: These versions offer blazing-fast speeds up to 10.5 Gbps, handle lots of devices more efficiently, and reduce interference for better performance in busy homes.
- Wi-Fi 7: The newest and fastest Wi-Fi yet! It delivers incredible speeds and advanced features for even smoother, more reliable connections. While Wi-Fi 7 routers are available, most devices still need to catch up to unlock its full potential.
HFN’s Rolling Out Our New Wi-Fi Options
While you can still choose to use your own router, here’s what features we’ve got coming your way to improve your Wi-Fi experience:
- Wi-Fi 6E Routers: Get faster speeds and better performance for all your modern devices.
- Managed Wi-Fi Services: Control and monitor your network with our app and let us help manage your Wi-Fi remotely to keep things running smoothly.
- High-Quality Routers: We’re offering a powerful Calix u6x router for better range and top performance.
- Wi-Fi 7 Coming Soon: Wi-Fi 7 routers will be available next year, giving you access to the latest and fastest technology out there.
Better Wi-Fi Means a Better Home Experience
Wi-Fi is a big part of everyday life, but it’s not all the same. With the right gear, your home network can handle whatever you throw at it—whether it’s streaming movies, working remotely or gaming online. HFN is here to make sure you have the speed, coverage and reliability you need.
For more information about our latest network upgrades and router options, visit the HFN website or follow us on social media.
Jeremy Fallt is the HFN general manager and a Westridge resident.
As published in the winter 2025 issue of Community Connect magazine >>>
