Next Generation Wi-Fi
As a dominant unlicensed wireless technology, Wi-Fi has experienced a phenomenal growth in recent years. Not just a huge growth in number of hotspots being deployed by several operators, but also new players emerging in the ecosystem (cities, venue owners, retail brands and specific vertical market service providers) and new value-added services being deployed (Wi-Fi Calling, Location Based Services).
Carrier grade Wi-Fi platforms, Next Generation Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi roaming and Passpoint have enabled the Wi-Fi ecosystem to develop new services for consumers and enterprises and to develop new monetization strategies and business models (e.g. Wi-Fi First operators, advertising, location based services).
For more information or engagement opportunities, contact: nghlive@wballiance.com
Trials & Testing
These trials aim to make the Wi-Fi user experience as easy, seamless and secure as a cellular experience. The NGH trials take the established hotspot model and builds new levels of ease of discovery, security of connection and efficiency of service, leveraging on tests conducted on live end-to-end networks. All in all, this has been considered an important initiative making impactful strides towards commercial deployments.
Next-Gen Wi-Fi Network & Device Testing
This project known as the Phase 4 of the Next Generation Hotpsots Trial,. This is a new enlarged scope is being considered, including devices, infrastructure and servers that are capable of performing Wi-Fi roaming (HS2.0 complaint) but not necessarily certified, such as latest brands (iPhones and Android Marshmallow).
Next Generation Wi-Fi Live Globalization
This initiative deliver fully operational Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) Wi-Fi network in grand scale in straight partnership with City authorities and other venues raising participation numbers to a scale of tens of thousands.
Carrier Wireless Services Certification (CWSC) for Vendors and Operators
WBA have launched Carrier Wireless Services Certification (CWSC) testing program for members (and sponsor partners) providing unprecedented capabilities to test the end-to-end Public WLAN ecosystem to guarantee that the service operation and user experience is consistent.
The objective of CWSC program is to create a platform for the companies to test equipment based on the use cases and respective test plan which address industry gaps towards commercial releases.
Tests are run based on the same principles of the Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) Trials but they are now run on independent fashion by recognized testing labs in equal scenario as performed on the different phases of the NGH Trials.
WBA have been championing NGH Trials since 2011 – its outputs (use cases, test plans and trial reports) have been widely spread across the industry – and based on these outputs several improvements have been made to create a valuable continuous testing programme for the Carrier Wi-Fi industry.
Currently, the program is entailed to support Wi-Fi Roaming, Wi-Fi Offload, Wi-Fi Calling (WIP), Quality of Service (WIP), among others being defined.
Benefits for you
Operators can maximize the customers’ satisfaction to your services. By participating in this program, you can ensure that the service, equipment & configurations you deliver to your customers works properly in your network and roaming partners
Equipment Vendors can enjoy a one-stop testing platform and reduce their time to market. By participating in this program, you can test your equipment on real carrier networks across multiple networks and between roaming partners
How to Participate:
WBA members are invited to participate on this program, either operators by providing SIM cards / EAP credentials to test different services or vendors by providing equipment to be tested against the different Test Plans. Contact WBA PMO team and explore your role in this program, contact pmo@wballiance.com
WBA members can download the use cases and respective test cases of the CWS program on the Members Extranet
Process to get Carrier Wireless Services Certificate issued by WBA:
Wi-Fi Requirements for Non-SIM Devices
Services Guidelines & Best Practices
Carrier Wi-Fi Definition
More than 30 global members contributed to the release of the first set of guidelines and requirements to deploy Carrier Wi-Fi networks which might be used widely by all ecosystem players.
Wi-Fi Calling
With the recent support from leading device vendors for Wi-Fi calling, Vo-LTE and Vo-Wi-Fi integration, the momentum for Wi-Fi calling in the industry is rapidly increasing. The workgroup is looking into Wi-Fi calling opportunities in the industry and producing a guidelines document that will help the ecosystem.
Community Wi-Fi
In Community Wi-Fi services, an operator enables a residential Wi-Fi GW with two Wi-Fi service set Identifiers (SSIDs), consisting of a private SSID (i.e., the residential Wi-Fi network) and public SSID (i.e., the Community Wi-Fi network). This workgroup studies service levels, network architecture, implementation details and gaps.
Wi-Fi Software Defined Networking (SDN) & Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Guidelines
Developed a whitepaper, including use cases, requirements, identification of gaps and challenges that Wi-Fi industry has to address to develop Wi-Fi SDN & NFV based solutions for Wi-Fi networks.
Quality of Service (QoS)
Operators want to offer differentiated services over Carrier Wi-Fi with guaranteed QoS. The objective of the workgroup is to identify the minimum set of requirements that operators would like to have for Wi-Fi QoS.
Location Based Services Standardization
Identify the opportunities and use cases for operators and various venues for Indoor Wi-Fi based analytics. Provide a guideline for an end-to-end system enabling the Wi-Fi based analytics solution and develop a minimum set of requirements.
Security over Untrusted Wi-Fi Networks
With the convergence of heterogeneous networks to maximize service offering and flexibility to the users, this project aims to define how to develop, interoperate and deploy proper security for various the network technologies, device types and services required by the operators.
Interoperability & Roaming Standards Guidelines
WRIX-n (network)
Provide guidelines to operators to create, upgrade or optimize their Wi-Fi networks to provide Roaming services and Interoperability (e.g. how users authenticate, certificates management, roaming configuration, among other key practical aspects).
Global NGH Service Provider Registry
Major industry effort to explore the creation and maintenance of a database with relevant information (e.g. Operators IDs, realms, addresses, etc.), which enables the ecosystem players to implement Wi-Fi roaming business.
Roaming Sustainment Group
WBA is the primary organization addressing Wi-Fi roaming related topics in the industry. All roaming documentation / information is maintained by this group and aligned with the most up-to-date industry developments.
Interoperability Compliance Program (ICP) for Operators
ICP is an initiative that makes it easier for operators globally to work together on a common set of technical and commercial frameworks for Wi-Fi roaming. Public Wi-Fi is increasingly being viewed by operators as an essential component for mobile connectivity. However, some fragmentation still remains in the way devices connect and roam on to Wi-Fi networks. Currently there are more than 20 global operators that have achieved an ICP level.
