The Freebox Ultra incorporates the latest advances in Wi-Fi, but not everything is going as planned. A recent feature is causing a drop in speed for some subscribers. Free has identified the problem, but the solution won't be immediate.
Internet boxes are evolving rapidly, integrating increasingly advanced technologies to offer better wireless speeds. Wi-Fi 7 is one of these new features. It promises faster and more stable connections, thanks in particular to features like MLO. But as is often the case with recent innovations, not everything always works as expected. Certain interactions between hardware, frequency bands, and compatible devices can create unforeseen situations.
Since the latest Freebox Ultra updates, several subscribers have reported a significant drop in speed when they activate the MLO function, for Multi-Link Operation. This technology allows a compatible device to connect simultaneously to multiple frequency bands, particularly 5 GHz and 6 GHz. The goal is to optimize speed and stability. However, on some devices like the Pixel 8 Pro, the results are disappointing with very low speeds, sometimes less than 1 Mbps. The bug was reported on the official Free bugtracker, where a developer confirmed the issue after conducting their own tests. The problem affects both downloading and uploading data.
Free confirms a bug on the Freebox Ultra but asks subscribers to be patient
Tests carried out by Free show that performance drops sharply as soon as you move away from the box. At a distance of one meter, speeds remain acceptable, but at 10 or 15 meters, they plummet, particularly when uploading. The problem is believed to be due to a malfunction in the negotiation between the frequency bands used by MLO, specific to Wi-Fi 7. The company describes this issue as a "difficult problem" that will take time to resolve. The bug has been identified, but remains low on the list of technical priorities.
While waiting for a solution, Free recommends that affected subscribers disable multi-band MLO mode and temporarily switch to a single band. This option is accessible from the Freebox management interface. It generally allows for more stable speeds, even if it limits the theoretical benefits of Wi-Fi 7. The provider specifies that no correction is planned in the short term, and therefore invites users to be patient, without giving a timetable for a possible fix.
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