Achieves an internationally standardized secure Wi-Fi connection environment for local residents and domestic and international travelers
KDDI Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Makoto Takahashi; hereafter KDDI) and Wire & Wireless Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoki Mukaiyoshi; hereafter Wi2) have developed a free Wi-Fi network platform (hereafter the platform) that supports OpenRoaming, an international wireless LAN roaming infrastructure promoted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)(Note 1), and will provide it to municipalities starting in April 2023. Additionally, both companies have been contracted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to develop and operate the “TOKYO FREE Wi-Fi” (https://wi-fi.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/) service environment using OpenRoaming, which will begin operation on March 31, 2023. This platform is a foundational system for providing free Wi-Fi and achieves a highly secure and convenient, free Wi-Fi environment.
Image of OpenRoaming Utilization in Tokyo
As more international travel to and from Japan is expected in the future, free Wi-Fi is in demand as an easy means for travelers to communicate in a secure environment. However, traditional free Wi-Fi often lacks encryption between the device and access point, posing security challenges such as difficulty in suppressing connections to fake access points.
With this platform, customers can safely and automatically connect to domestic and international free Wi-Fi that supports OpenRoaming by simply registering once through a QR code or app displayed in the area. This eliminates the need for registration at Wi-Fi spots and reduces the risk of personal information being stolen by fake access points.
Test operation results of this platform:
- Tokyo Marathon 2023
On March 5, 2023, a trial operation of Wi-Fi using OpenRoaming was conducted at the pre-registration counter and gate near the starting point of the Tokyo Marathon 2023, utilizing this platform (Note 3). We received feedback from runners from overseas who said that they were able to easily connect to Wi-Fi and confirm their identity through the app.
We conducted a demonstration utilizing satellite communication Starlink and network slicing through 5G SA to provide stable Wi-Fi during network congestion at certain spots, and confirmed that it is possible to secure wireless communication capacity in crowded environments.
KDDI is a supporting partner of the Tokyo Marathon 2023
2．Shinjuku Central Park.
From March 1, 2023 to March 14, 2023, a trial operation was conducted in the workspace of an outdoor tent set up at “Choubou no Mori” in Shinjuku Central Park. As a result, customers who used the service commented that it was “convenient and reassuring to easily and safely connect to Wi-Fi, just like at home or at work.
■ Key features of this platform
- Realization of safe and high-speed free Wi-Fi.
The platform includes a mechanism to verify the legitimacy of access points with electronic certificates, preventing users from connecting to fake access points. In addition, wireless communication channels are encrypted with different keys for each user to prevent eavesdropping. The platform also supports the 6GHz band (Wi-Fi6E), which became available for operation in Japan in September 2022, and strives to provide a more comfortable Wi-Fi environment with maximum communication speeds of up to 2.4Gbps. (The service will be provided in some initial service areas of the project commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.)
- Support for various operating systems and languages.
We offer an initial setup system with easy-to-understand guidance that supports major operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS). We provide registration procedures in Japanese, as well as English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. We also have a customer support desk available by phone and email (in Japanese and English) to ensure that you can easily use our secure Wi-Fi service using new technologies. Additionally, this initial setup system is compatible with collaboration with local government apps and official SNS accounts, allowing for the integration of Wi-Fi connectivity into various media.
- Expansion of external service integration
It is possible to connect to various external services that support OpenRoaming. Some smartphones come with standard connectivity features, and it is also possible to use OpenRoaming compatible apps, among other options. In addition, it also supports eduroam (Note 4), an authentication infrastructure for educational and research institutions, and students and faculty belonging to approximately 300 participating institutions in Japan can also connect using their authentication information. The connection to these services, including access points, is automatically aggregated and digitalized, enabling visualization and demand analysis of usage by installation location.
４．Collaboration with local government services
Collaboration with various services such as disaster prevention apps provided by local governments enables the use of free Wi-Fi without installing any new dedicated apps. It is possible to easily connect to Wi-Fi during disasters or tourism activities, and communication can be secured even during emergencies. Like traditional free Wi-Fi, it can be customized and deployed with unique names such as regional branding.
KDDI and Wi2 will support solving regional issues across Japan, such as securing communication means in case of disasters, providing information to domestic and international tourists, and bridging the digital divide, through the provision of this platform. In addition, by combining KDDI Group’s diverse access lines, including fiber-optic lines, 5G, and satellite, they will realize a sustainable regional network.
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■ Efforts to enhance the value of Wi-Fi infrastructure
KDDI and Wi2 have started offering the first OpenRoaming compatible app update in Japanese for “au Wi-Fi access,” jointly provided by both companies, through App Store and Google Play starting in March 2023. This aims to enable safe Wi-Fi connections in more areas domestically and internationally, and provide information tailored to the Wi-Fi spots using real-time location-based information delivery features. Moreover, by collecting statistics on the OpenRoaming connection status of over 2.5 million users and flow status between areas, a foundation for utilizing Wi-Fi access points in DX(Digital Transformation) and data utilization initiatives in municipalities will be established.
(Note 1) It is an industry organization of public wireless LAN service-related companies, including telecommunications operators, that operates on a global scale.
(Note 2) It is an international wireless LAN roaming platform jointly developed by the industry organization Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), which is a public wireless LAN service-related industry organization, and its member companies. It is based on Passpoint (a protocol that enables secure network detection and connection without relying on ESSID) formulated by the industry organization Wi-Fi Alliance with the aim of promoting the spread of wireless LAN products, and global promotion activities are being carried out to realize an environment where one account can connect to public wireless LANs around the world. In Japan, Tohoku University has been the center of the development of the roaming platform “Cityroam” since 2018, and as a member of WBA, it has constructed and operated an authentication hub. This platform is built in collaboration with Cityroam by Wi2, which is also a member of WBA.
(Note 3) KDDI is a supporting partner of the Tokyo Marathon 2023.
(Note 4) eduroam is an academic wireless LAN roaming platform developed in Europe. It has become a de facto standard for roaming campus wireless LANs in 106 countries and regions around the world. In Japan, it was introduced in 2006 by the National Institute of Informatics (NII) and is mainly used under the name “eduroam JP” to enable mutual use of campus wireless LANs, mainly at universities.
※ “Wi-Fi” and “Passpoint” are registered trademarks of Wi-Fi Alliance.
※ “Android” and “Google Play” are trademarks of Google LLC.
※ “App Store” is a service mark of Apple Inc. “Mac OS” is a trademark of Apple Inc. registered in the United States and other countries.
※ “Windows®” is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
※ Other company names, organization names, system names, and product names mentioned are generally registered trademarks or trademarks of each respective company or organization.
