Resource Centre

RADIUS Accounting Assurance Industry Framework

Discover the transformative potential of accurate RADIUS accounting with our latest report, “RADIUS Accounting Assurance Industry Framework.” Developed by the WBA members, this comprehensive framework addresses critical challenges in RADIUS accounting practices, vital for network management and Wi-Fi roaming.

Why RADIUS Accounting Matters

Since its inception in 1997, RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) accounting remains crucial for monitoring data usage across network access servers. As network technologies advance and demand for seamless connectivity grows, the accuracy of RADIUS accounting data is pivotal for operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

With a particular focus on Wi-Fi networks and roaming scenarios, the report highlights the need for accurate data usage tracking to ensure effective billing, analytics, and settlement processes.

Highlights and Benefits:

• Enhanced Data Accuracy: Implement standardized methodologies for detecting and correcting errors to ensure precise data reporting and billing.
• Reduced Financial Discrepancies: Address billing errors and financial disputes, especially critical in Wi-Fi roaming scenarios.
• Improved Interoperability: Promote seamless integration across diverse network equipment, enhancing system compatibility and functionality.
• Industry Best Practices: Access expert insights on standardized methods to detect, report, and handle inaccuracies for reliable data handling.
• Collaborative Efforts: Learn about initiatives led by the WBA’s Roaming Work Group and the integration into the Wireless Roaming Intermediary eXchange (WRIX) framework to unify and enhance RADIUS data management.
• Informed Decision Making: Use accurate data to make informed choices about network management, strategic planning, and capacity management.

The framework is an ongoing project, open to participation from industry stakeholders aiming to refine and enhance the reliability of RADIUS accounting. We invite industry players to join this collaborative effort to implement the proposed improvements and benefit from shared expertise, thus enhancing its effectiveness and industry acceptance.

For more information or to participate in upcoming projects, contact the WBA Program Management Office at pmo@wballiance.com.

Wireless Global Congress Americas 2024 (Dallas) Day 2 – June 13, 2024

The full replay of day 2 of WGC Americas in Dallas, held on June 13, 2024. For more information on WBA’s events, visit https://www.wirelessglobalcongress.com/

Wireless Global Congress Americas 2024 (Dallas) Day 1 – June 12, 2024

The full replay of day 1 of WGC Americas in Dallas, held on June 12, 2024. For more information on WBA’s events, visit https://www.wirelessglobalcongress.com/

Venue Requirements for User Engagement

The “Venue Requirements for User Engagement” report provides essential insights into optimizing user engagement and revenue opportunities in public Wi-Fi deployment. It emphasizes understanding user needs and leveraging technologies like OpenRoaming™ and Passpoint® to enhance connectivity and user experiences.

By prioritizing user engagement, businesses can reduce costs, increase revenue streams, ensure regulatory compliance, gain a competitive advantage, and facilitate Wi-Fi roaming. This comprehensive guide equips industry stakeholders with best practices to improve overall user experiences and drive business success in the dynamic landscape of public Wi-Fi provision.

The report underscores the critical need for industry stakeholders to prioritize user engagement in Wi-Fi network design and operation. By understanding and addressing the requirements of both venues and users, businesses can enhance the overall user experience, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue opportunities.

The benefits for operators and venues that improve user engagement include:

• Cost Reduction & Cost Control: Implementing efficient onboarding processes and standardized interfaces can help reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining Wi-Fi networks, especially for venues with high user traffic.
• Increased Revenue Opportunities: By offering seamless and engaging user experiences, venues can attract more users, leading to potential revenue streams through advertising, pay-as-you-go models, or partnerships with third parties and roaming services.
• Regulatory Compliance: Understanding and implementing best practices for user engagement can help industry players comply with regulatory requirements related to user privacy, data protection, and network security.
• Competitive Advantage: Industry players that excel in user engagement and provide a seamless Wi-Fi experience can gain a competitive edge in the market, attracting more customers and partners.
• Wi-Fi roaming: Facilitated by the WBA’s OpenRoaming Federation, Wi-Fi roaming offers venues a valuable revenue stream and enhanced user experience. It simplifies Wi-Fi connectivity for users, ensuring secure network access and increasing customer satisfaction. Roaming can also be a form of user exchange, allowing seamless connectivity across partnerships, enriching and simplifying the user experience.

To organizations keen on sharing relevant use cases and insights on Wi-Fi, we invite you to connect with the WBA Program Management Office (PMO) at pmo@wballiance.com

PKI Certificate Policy Document

The WBA WRIX architecture, pivotal in supporting Wi-Fi roaming, leverages RadSec/TLS to enhance the security of RADIUS exchanges traditionally secured by IPSec VPN. This new method replaces outdated IP address identification and shared MD5 secrets with a more robust trust model using X.509 certificates. Benefits of transitioning to RadSec/TLS include automated security, improved reliability, and better management of timeouts and fragmentation due to the use of TCP over UDP.

This PKI Certificate Policy document outlines the overarching framework of WBA WRIX PKI, addressing the business, legal, and technical guidelines. It details the use and assurance levels of PKI certificates, obligations of Certification Authorities (CAs), compliance requirements, and identity verification processes. The policy also covers certificate lifecycle management, operational security, audit logging, disaster recovery, and security protocols for physical and logical infrastructure. Additional provisions include content guidelines for Certificate profiles and Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL), as well as related agreements like the Digital Certificate Authorization Agreement (DCAA) and Root CA Hosting Agreement, ensuring a uniform level of trust across the WBA WRIX system.

For more information regarding the WBA PKI Certificate Policy document, please contact pki@wballiance.com or pmo@wballiance.com

Pioneering Connectivity: Loughborough University’s OpenRoaming™ Journey

Learn How OpenRoaming is Transforming Connectivity in the Education Sector

Loughborough University, a leading UK institution renowned for its sports programs, is home to over 40 research bodies and centers across 18 academic departments in Leicestershire, England. Since 2023, the University has been at the forefront of the Wi-Fi revolution, implementing OpenRoaming™ to enhance its vast campus network. With a history dating back to 1909, Loughborough University has consistently adopted advanced technology to improve the experiences of its diverse community and international visitors.

The adoption of WBA OpenRoaming is pivotal in its digital transformation efforts, highlighting the growing necessity for robust and secure connectivity solutions in today’s technology-driven educational environments.

Discover the Benefits of OpenRoaming Now

Learn from Loughborough University’s successful deployment of OpenRoaming. Find out how you can join the WBA OpenRoaming initiative and bring seamless, secure Wi-Fi to your educational institution. Enhance your connectivity infrastructure with proven solutions and expert insights.

Download the Case Study and Join WBA OpenRoaming to start transforming your campus network today.

World Wi-Fi Day – 2024 Media Kit

Download the World W-Fi Day Media Kit with all social assets you can use on your networking platform. Ensure you tag and mention #worldwifiday and we can like and share

Wi-Fi Roaming Standard – WRIX Umbrella Document

WBA defines roaming set-up best practices for service providers and outlines the reasons for providing roaming services as well as suitable strategies to adopt. Standards are provided for the type of information needed from the Wi-Fi network, together with guidelines on how to exchange relevant information between involved parties. Moreover, WBA maintains a database of Operators roaming related data, including the WBAID that is solely provided and maintained by the WBA.

This WRIX Umbrella document is an integral part of the whole Wireless Roaming Intermediary eXchange (WRIX) Framework, developed by the WBA Roaming Work Group. This document defines the means by which operators may interconnect with each other, either directly or through their respective WRIX-is, for the purposes of providing wireless broadband roaming services to their end-users. It also provided a guidance for best practices of Wi-Fi Roaming and overview of WRIX interfaces and entities.

Signaling AP Location for Wi-Fi Roaming

As Wi-Fi networks mature, identifying the location of access points has become increasingly critical for various functions, including network management, troubleshooting, security, and regulatory compliance.

The “Signaling AP Location for Wi-Fi Roaming” report explores scenarios where an Identity Provider (IDP) can benefit from knowing the location of an End-User authenticating at an Access Network Provider (ANP) using the IDP’s credentials. This is especially relevant as Wi-Fi becomes integrated into multi-technology networks, leading to complex financial settlement arrangements and mission-critical applications where location reporting becomes essential.

Key benefits to the Wi-Fi industry highlighted in this report include:

• Identifying use cases where communicating the location of End-Users or ANP APs to the IDP is crucial, such as network selection (Wi-Fi or cellular) based on AP location, Connected vehicle fleet management, Roaming Hub Policy, and Emergency call support for Mobile Vurtial Network Operators, Emergency calling using OpenRoaming architecture.
• Identifying current standards and gaps where further guidelines or standards work may be necessary.
• Raising awareness in the industry of this need and providing a starting point for addressing it for both manufacturers and IDPs.

This report crystallizes the emerging need for AP location information in Wi-Fi roaming scenarios, providing concrete recommendations to aid and accelerate industry adoption of Signaling Location in RADIUS. It also addresses technical challenges and opportunities for consistent and standardized delivery of location information within OpenRoaming, ensuring comprehensive and consistent location reporting across the industry for more efficient Wi-Fi network management.

For organizations eager to share relevant use cases and learning on Wi-Fi Roaming, we encourage you to reach out to the WBA Program Management Office (PMO) at pmo@wballiance.com. Be part of shaping the future of Wi-Fi.

Connected Communities Forum (CCF) Meeting – March 21, 2024

WBA’s Connected Communities Forum (CCF) co-hosted an exciting event with Dentons Global Smart Cities & Connected Communities Think Tank, featuring a fireside chat with Robert Schwartz, President & CEO of Anterix and a panel discussion moderated by Clint Vince and featuring Erin Spears, New Orleans City Council; Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer for Mayor of London; David Wilkins, Head of Digital Place at Westminster City Council; Michael Lee Sherwood, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer for City of Las Vegas; and Alphonso Jenkins, Strategist for Broadband Communications.