TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The WBA’s Policy & Regulatory Affairs Work Group is to track global trends and relevant policy & spectrum issues that are of concern to the WBA membership.

The Work Group will coordinate Wi-Fi advocacy efforts across membership, cities, regions and regulators globally to provide and issue industry guidelines and white papers that outline recommendations to regulators and authorities in respect to various spectrums ranges, worldwide bands allocation and public consultation consensus and responses.

BUSINESS & MARKET BENEFITS

Work closely with WBA members and regulatory bodies for on securing more Wi-Fi spectrum, improving security, and enhancing user experiences through innovations like Passpoint® and OpenRoaming™. This ensures businesses gain access to more reliable and secure connectivity, fostering growth.

Validate business opportunities of new Wi-Fi generations and emerging spectrum bands. By engaging with global regulators, businesses can access new markets, stay ahead of technology trends, and unlock growth potential.

Embrace the benefits of WBA OpenRoaming to support user authentication and address regulatory requirements for user identification issues.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Advocate for 6 GHz band harmonization and address the US FCC 6 GHz FNPRM ruling gaps to ensure broader coverage.
• Promote client-to-client communication capabilities in the 6 GHz band for improved network performance.
• Achieve successful advocacy with regional leaders in Asia and South America to support 6 GHz band policies.
• Develop a strategy for the upper 6 GHz band in the EU to optimize its use in future networks.
• Collaborate on OpenRoaming and Passpoint® strategies to improve seamless connectivity and user experiences.
• Establish a framework for emergency calling over Wi-Fi to enhance safety and reliability across networks.