The Wireless Broadband Alliance (“WBA”), a pioneer in global Wireless Broadband roaming for public Wi-Fi networks, announced on its 5th anniversary that 11 new members including leading roaming providers, WiMAX Operators and Wi-Fi Operators from across Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe and Africa have joined its folds. With these new members, the WBA aims to help customers enjoy increased roaming opportunities globally, across technologies, networks and devices.

The new WiMAX operator members of WBA offering public Wi-Fi services include FREEDOM4 (UK), NOMAD (Mauritius), Unwired (Australia) and YTLE (Malaysia). The other new members include leading Roaming Providers – Comfone, iPass, MACH, Quiconnect, Syniverse and Verisign who bring with them extensive roaming experience and knowledge into WBA to allow interoperability across technologies, devices and network. In addition, Connection Services, who provides services such as global hotspot directory has also joined WBA.

With the addition of new members, the WBA membership has boosted significantly during this year from an initial 26 to 38. It now includes a unique mix of leading roaming providers and operators offering wireless services across Wi-Fi, WiMAX and Mobile broadband networks.

“Internet roaming across various wireless broadband technologies has been a key focus area for WBA. The WiMAX technology is fast catching up and is soon expected to be embedded in devices like laptops and mobile phones. Similarly with proliferation of dual mode Mobile and Wi-Fi devices, our effort is to facilitate seamless authentication and roaming across multiple devices and networks. A rapidly expanding membership and ongoing collaboration projects with other industry bodies will help WBA to work closely with the wider industry ecosystem to help existing members address the growing demand from end-users for seamless wireless broadband services.” said Mr. Prateek Pashine, Chair of WBA.

About WBA
Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is now into its fifth year of operation, it was created to drive the adoption of wireless broadband technologies and services around the world by developing a common commercial, technical and marketing framework for wireless network interoperability. Its goal is to develop a global alliance of wireless providers that can truly deliver services that provide a consistent customer experience and reliability for wireless broadband users worldwide.

One of the key achievements of the WBA has been to drive commercial Wi-Fi roaming globally by developing WBA WRIX (Wireless Roaming Intermediary Exchange), a modularised standard service specification that won the Wireless Broadband Innovation 2007 award in the Best Wi-Fi Product / Service segment. This standard makes it easier to implement roaming between WBA members and reduces time to market for new operators interested in expanding global roaming footprint. It allows the end-customers around the world to enjoy consistent user experience while roaming globally.

The WBA is also actively collaborating with other alliances and forums to help harmonize wireless broadband roaming standards including those for support Dual Mode devices and WIMAX roaming.

The Wireless Broadband Alliance has been formed by pioneers in the wireless broadband field. Its 38 members include leading operators offering wireless services across Wi-Fi, WiMAX and Mobile broadband networks and Roaming Providers. Collectively, the Wireless Broadband Alliance members operate over 85,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide and have a pool of more than 230 million subscribers across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas.

For more information, please visit wballiance.com