Resource Centre

Program Overview 2025

WBA connects people with the latest Wi-Fi initiatives.

Download the latest WBA Programs and Projects Overview and learn more about how WBA can help your business.

Innovation Forum Meeting – January 14, 2025

Wi2 OpenRoaming: Revolutionizing Public Wi-Fi for a Digital Japan

Learn How OpenRoaming is Transforming Connectivity in Japan

Wi2 (Wire and Wireless), a subsidiary of KDDI, one of Japan’s largest telecommunications companies was founded in July 2007, launching its Wi-Fi services in April 2009 and officially joining the KDDI Group in October 2010. Today, Wi2 operates over 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across Japan, making it as one of the largest public Wi-Fi providers in Japan.

Discover the Benefits of OpenRoaming Now

Learn from Wi2’s successful deployment of OpenRoaming. Find out how you can join the WBA OpenRoaming initiative and bring seamless, secure Wi-Fi to your 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.

Private 5G and Wi-Fi Convergence Report: Phase 2 – Technical Considerations

The Private 5G and Wi-Fi Convergence Report: Phase 2 – Technical Considerations builds on the Phase 1 insights, which identified key use cases and highlighted the essential role of Wi-Fi in optimizing 5G performance. This new report delves into advanced architectural strategies and technical solutions, setting the stage for seamless interworking between Wi-Fi and 5G.

This report marks the next phase in 5G and Wi-Fi integration, offering a practical roadmap for enterprises to maximize performance, efficiency, and cost savings by leveraging both networks. This convergence enables enterprises to benefit from the high-speed, low-latency capabilities of 5G, combined with Wi-Fi’s broad coverage and adaptability for varied use cases and industries.

Key technical solutions include the use of Service Functions—widely deployed features like security, WAN acceleration, and load balancing—to enhance network operations. The report also explores connectivity status sharing across networks for optimized performance, and improved latency by strategically managing user traffic across Wi-Fi and Private 5G.

Looking Ahead to Phase 3

In 2025, Private 5G & Wi-Fi Convergence – Phase 3 will focus on establishing an industry standard for RAN convergence. Key developments will include vector roaming, Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS), along with enhancements to Quality of Experience (QoE). These advancements aim to create a seamless, unified framework for the future of converged networks.

Reach out to the WBA Program Management Office (PMO) with this form. Be part of shaping the future of Wi-Fi.

WBA Annual Industry Report 2025

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is delighted to present its highly anticipated WBA Industry Report 2025, highlighting significant trends and developments in the Wi-Fi and connectivity sector. Based on insights from 170 global industry executives, the report underscores a surge in confidence and investment in Wi-Fi technologies, with a focus on OpenRoaming and next-generation standards like Wi-Fi 7.

Key findings reveal that 81% of respondents plan OpenRoaming deployments by 2026, marking an 18.9% increase from the previous year. Confidence in Wi-Fi investment is also on the rise, with 60% of respondents expressing increased optimism. Enhanced network security and seamless integration between Wi-Fi and cellular networks were cited as major drivers of adoption.

The report also highlights the growing deployment of advanced technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Halow and Wi-Fi Sensing, alongside key updates on Private 5G and Wi-Fi Networks, the impact of AI and the future evolution of Wi-Fi 8 and 6G.  Furthermore, the importance of the 6GHz spectrum and the anticipated growth in traffic at transportation hubs are emphasized.

WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues expressed optimism about the expanding role of Wi-Fi innovations, stating that technologies like OpenRoaming and Wi-Fi 7 are pivotal in simplifying connectivity, reducing costs, and enhancing user experiences.

The comprehensive report also covers key updates on market segments such as residential Wi-Fi, enterprise networks, and public spaces, while providing an overview of WBA’s strategic priorities for the future.

Operator Managed Wi-Fi: Reference Architecture and Requirements

Overview of the OMWi Reference Architecture

Introduced by the WBA in 2023, the Operator Managed Wi-Fi (OMWi) reference architecture was developed in collaboration with industry leaders, including major ISPs, open-source communities, and hardware and software vendors, to meet the growing demand for a comprehensive, standardized and interoperable reference for residential Wi-Fi.

Phase 2 Developments: Expanding Scope and Implementation

In 2024, OMWi advanced to Phase 2, expanding its scope with enhanced technical and operational requirements and introducing open-source, OMWi-compliant implementations from partners such as the prpl Foundation,and RDK-B. This updated technical report delivers a comprehensive framework for deploying and managing residential Wi-Fi, addressing global operator needs through the integration of key standards and open-source platforms. It defines a standardized reference architecture that streamlines Wi-Fi management by unifying data collection, network configuration, and optimization processes across systems, reducing dependence on fragmented, proprietary solutions.

The OMWi architecture integrates key industry standards, including Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi EasyMesh™, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Data Elements™, and Broadband Forum’s User Services Platform (USP) Data Models TR-369 and TR-181. These standards collectively ensure that the architecture is scalable and interoperable, guiding operators in engaging with equipment vendors on shared specifications.

Looking Ahead to Phase 3

In Phase 3, expected to begin in 2025, WBA plans to launch a compliance program that will include an expanded telemetry component and an endorsed testing suite. This suite will offer a self-service test kit or authorized lab testing, providing vendors and service providers with an accessible path to OMWi certification. Certified organizations can assure customers of consistent, reliable functionality across OMWi-compliant networks, solidifying OMWi as an industry standard.

Reach out to the WBA Program Management Office (PMO) with this form. Be part of shaping the future of Wi-Fi.

OpenRoaming for IoT – FIDO Device Onboarding Framework

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and the FIDO Alliance have joined forces to integrate FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) and WBA OpenRoaming^TM technologies. This collaboration aims to create a seamless and secure onboarding process for Internet of Things (IoT) Wi-Fi devices, paralleling the simplicity and security of traditional Wi-Fi device onboarding using OpenRoaming. The OpenRoaming for IoT – FIDO Device Onboarding Framework report details how these technologies work together to simplify and secure the onboarding process for IoT devices.

The integration between OpenRoaming and FDO is a significant milestone in the realm of Wi-Fi device onboarding, and addresses critical challenges of large-scale IoT deployments by providing a secure, scalable, and automated solution. By automating the onboarding process, this allows headless and other pre-configured FDO IoT devices to be onboarded straight out of the box using OpenRoaming, it can then receive new OpenRoaming credentials, allowing it to connect via OpenRoaming permanently, or receive credentials to connect to a private Wi-Fi network for a permanent connection.

By combining OpenRoaming and FDO, the framework facilitates efficient, zero-touch device onboarding, ensuring a streamlined and secure experience for both users and network providers. This integration is a landmark achievement in Wi-Fi device onboarding, addressing key challenges in the industry and establishing a new standard for device deployment.

Key Benefits:

• Zero-touch, secure onboarding: Automates device onboarding, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring secure authentication.
• OpenRoaming and FDO integration: Describes how pre-configured OpenRoaming and FDO credentials enable seamless device connectivity across networks.
• Alternative network environments: Covers complex deployments and provisioning challenges.
• Supply chain security: Ensures device security through ownership vouchers and cryptographic mechanisms.

The OpenRoaming for IoT – FIDO Device Onboarding Framework sets a new standard for secure and efficient IoT device deployments by automating onboarding and enhancing security. This framework paves the way for widespread industry adoption, promoting cross-industry collaboration and enabling a broad range of industries to benefit from improved operational efficiency and strengthened security across their IoT networks.