The AVM Fritz!Box 5690 Pro and Telekom Speedport 7 are the first residential hybrid routers that combine native fiber connectivity with Wi‑Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), delivering multi‑gigabit wireless speeds, lower latency, and built‑in support for modern smart‑home protocols. Both devices serve as a single entry point for wired and wireless traffic in high‑bandwidth homes.
Wi‑Fi 7 Enters the Home
Wi‑Fi 7 introduces up to five times the throughput of Wi‑Fi 6E by using 320 MHz channels, 4 K QAM modulation, and Multi‑Link Operation (MLO) that aggregates multiple frequency bands. In practice, this means more stable connections in dense environments and the ability to sustain multi‑gigabit speeds over the air—essential for 8K streaming, cloud gaming, and advanced smart‑home ecosystems.
AVM Fritz!Box 5690 Pro: Fiber Integration
The Fritz!Box 5690 Pro adds a native GPON (Gigabit‑Capable Passive Optical Network) interface, allowing direct attachment to fiber‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) lines without an external ONT. This hardware upgrade future‑proofs the device as German broadband providers expand FTTH deployments, ensuring the router can handle both high‑speed fiber backhaul and Wi‑Fi 7 front‑end traffic.
FritzOS 8.20 Expands Software Capabilities
AVM’s latest firmware, FritzOS 8.20, rolls out to the entire Fritz!Box fleet, bringing several enhancements:
- Improved WLAN‑Mesh: Automatic node placement and channel optimization for seamless whole‑home coverage.
- Smart‑Home Hub: Unified control of DECT, Zigbee, and Matter devices through a single interface.
- Refined UI: More intuitive navigation within the web‑based management console.
Even older models such as the Fritz!Box 7590 AX receive the update, extending mesh networking and smart‑home features without requiring hardware replacement.
Pricing and Market Positioning
AVM is discounting legacy DSL‑centric routers to clear inventory as it shifts focus to fiber‑ready, Wi‑Fi 7‑enabled hardware. Telekom markets the Speedport 7 as a premium solution bundled with its fiber service and security suite, positioning it for customers seeking a turnkey, high‑performance home network.
Consumer Impact and Industry Trends
For end users, the combination of native fiber support and Wi‑Fi 7 delivers smoother 8K video playback, lower latency for virtual reality and cloud gaming, and reliable connectivity for AI‑driven assistants. Industry‑wide, the move forces traditional ISP‑provided routers to adopt advanced Wi‑Fi standards and integrated fiber interfaces, or risk obsolescence.
Future Outlook
As Germany’s broadband infrastructure rapidly upgrades to fiber, the Fritz!Box 5690 Pro and Speedport 7 are set to become the reference platforms for high‑performance home networking. Consumers aiming to future‑proof their homes should prioritize routers that combine native fiber connectivity with Wi‑Fi 7 and benefit from ongoing firmware enhancements.
