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Emergency Calling over Wi-Fi Networks Industry Framework
This report defines an end-to-end framework for emergency calling over Wi-Fi, enabling users without cellular coverage or credentials to place calls, while ensuring secure, authenticated, and location-aware communication through credential-free Wi-Fi access.
The framework covers network discovery, secure connection to the network and location identification, and has been developed to ensure both operational and legal requirements around the world are met. It also expands the availability of emergency services access to unconnected and Wi-Fi only users, calling on device manufacturers to embed emergency profiles into their devices.
Cellular Emergency Calling over OpenRoaming Wi-Fi Networks
As a mobile operator, understanding how to cost-effectively extend Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi) to improve coverage in weak signal areas or dead spots, is key to enabling emergency services communications.
This report outlines how OpenRoaming can be used as a global extension of traditional mobile voice services, combining SIM-based authentication, emergency call routing and accurate location detection to deliver lower cost roaming-friendly emergency Wi-Fi calling. It also demonstrates how OpenRoaming’s bronze performance tier supports VoWi-Fi with sufficient Quality of Service (QoS) to support emergency calling, as well as providing international emergency fallback when a cellular service is not available.
National Security & Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP)
For NS/EP organizations and government agencies, reliable communications networks are critical to disaster recovery, crowd control and managing emergency situations. Networks must be robust, prioritize emergency traffic, and be resilient in high-load scenarios. Increasingly, IoT devices have a crucial role to play in emergency situations. From access control to CCTV and critical national infrastructure control systems, uninterrupted connectivity must be maintained.
This report shows the performance improvements, such as Quality of Service in high-load scenarios, and demonstrates how Wi-Fi 7 supports priority access for government, first responders, and IoT systems under congestion. Wi-Fi enables for government agencies, emergency services and enterprises. Validates Wi-Fi’s role as a safety-critical platform for disaster recovery, crowd control, and critical infrastructure.
Access Network Metrics – Phase 2
Following the groundwork laid in Phase 1, where the WBA introduced the need for consistent, measurable Wi-Fi access network metrics, Phase 2 of the Access Network Metrics program takes a major step forward — from concept to implementation.
This report defines how service providers, network operators, and technology vendors can collect, standardize, and transmit key Wi-Fi performance metrics. By extending the RADIUS protocol through enhanced Connect-Info attributes, and introducing structured out-of-band data models, it delivers a practical framework for sharing real-time and historical network quality indicators.
Key Highlights:
- Enhanced Roaming Intelligence: Empower smarter Wi-Fi and cellular offload decisions using live Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics.
- Standardized Metric Transmission: Leverage RADIUS extensions and API-based models to seamlessly integrate network health insights into roaming and authentication flows.
- Real-World Use Cases: Explore deployment scenarios across airports, hospitals, and enterprise venues where intelligent offloading and session management optimize user experiences.
- Path to Industry Adoption: Includes an IETF Internet-Draft proposal and outlines an upcoming live Proof of Concept (PoC) with industry leaders.
As the demand for business-grade Wi-Fi and seamless cellular convergence grows, Access Network Metrics project team ensures that trust, visibility, and service quality are no longer optional — they are essential. Operators, enterprises, and vendors now have a blueprint to deliver predictable, high-quality wireless experiences at scale.
Wi-Fi 7 Trials for Enterprise Scenarios by AT&T, CommScope and Intel
Unlock the Future of Enterprise Connectivity with Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7 is here, bringing breakthrough capabilities like Multi-Link Operations (MLO), 320 MHz channels, 4K QAM, and enhanced QoS, designed to deliver higher throughput, lower latency, and greater efficiency for next-gen enterprise applications.
AT&T, CommScope (RUCKUS Networks), and Intel have partnered with the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) to conduct real-world Wi-Fi 7 trials in enterprise environments, comparing its performance with Wi-Fi 6E. The results highlight Wi-Fi 7’s ability to power mission-critical applications, including XR, AI, cloud computing, and industrial IoT.
Building on insights from the WBA’s previous report, “Get Ready for Wi-Fi 7: Applying New Capabilities to Key Use Cases,” , these latest trials assessed rate vs. range performance in enterprise settings, comparing Wi-Fi 7 with Wi-Fi 6E across the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. The tests which were conducted in live enterprise environments, revealed that Wi-Fi 7 delivers:
The results are clear:
- Nearly 2x the throughput of Wi-Fi 6E on 5 GHz
- Sustained 1 Gbps+ speeds at 40 feet in 6 GHz
- Lower latency & improved efficiency for AR/VR, video conferencing, and automation
- Greater network reliability for high-density enterprise environments with thousands of connected devices
Discover how Wi-Fi 7 can transform enterprise connectivity.
Wi-Fi 7 Trial Report for Residential Settings by LG U+ and Intel
LG U+ is a leading telecom operator in South Korea, serving over 5 million subscribers with Wi-Fi-based wireless internet services. The surge in data-intensive applications—such as large-scale gaming, high-definition video streaming, AR/VR/XR, cloud computing, AI/ML, remote work, and IoT—has significantly increased the demand for high-speed internet.
Building on its earlier work in the report “Get Ready for Wi-Fi 7: Applying New Capabilities to Key Use Cases,” WBA, Intel, and LG U+ have developed a Wi-Fi 7 field trial report, demonstrating breakthrough performance improvements in dense residential environments.
The trials, conducted by LG U+ in collaboration with Intel, confirmed that Wi-Fi 7 achieves peak speeds of 4.9 Gbps, significantly boosting stability and reducing latency compared to Wi-Fi 6.
Wi-Fi 7 introduces game-changing advancements over Wi-Fi 6, including Multi-Link Operation (MLO), support for 320 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band, 4K-QAM, Quality of Service (QoS), preamble puncturing, r-TWT, and MU RU. These enhancements enable higher throughput, lower latency, and improved efficiency and reliability.
As part of this initiative, LG U+ and Intel continue to evaluate Wi-Fi 7 technology. LG U+ is actively developing a Wi-Fi 7 router to enhance home internet connectivity and deliver an optimized experience for its customers.
Enriched Service Over Converged Wi-Fi and Cellular Network
VoWiFi, aka Wi-Fi calling has long been in the DNA on the WBA, with earliest work dating back to 2015. This latest white paper, authored by the GSMA 5G Voice over Wi-Fi Task Force (5GVoWiFi TF) is a result of collaboration amongst a number of TF member companies as well as contributions from the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and Wireless Broadband Association (WBBA).
VoWiFi or Wi-Fi Calling has been deployed by numerous operators worldwide over the past decade. With the advent of the 5G era, there are new requirements emerging for Wi-Fi Calling in 5G:
The White Paper covers the following:
— Why Wi-Fi Calling is needed under diverse scenarios and services,
— Use cases on the ground, at sea and in the air,
— Network architecture for Wi-Fi Calling via 5G Core
— Characteristics of Wi-Fi Calling networks and technologies for performance and security,
— Business models and trials results.
Smart Home & IoT – Operator-Managed Industry Framework
The “Smart Home & IoT: Operator-Managed Industry Framework” by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) envisions the future of smart homes and IoT ecosystems, focusing on interoperability, security, and scalability. This framework builds on the evolution from Smart Home 1.0 and Smart Home 2.0, progressing toward NextGen Smart Homes powered by AI, edge computing, and sustainability, technologies that make homes more intuitive, energy-efficient, and responsive to user needs.
At the core of the framework is the adoption of open standards, with Matter serving as a universal protocol that ensures seamless device integration across manufacturers. This helps reduce fragmentation and creates a more user-friendly, secure, and interoperable ecosystem. Key technologies such as Wi-Fi 6/7, Wi-Fi HaLow, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Thread provide the robust connectivity needed to support smart homes
The framework emphasizes the importance of edge computing, which allows for local data processing to improve privacy, efficiency, and reduce reliance on cloud systems. AI-driven automation and predictive analytics further enhance the smart home experience, enabling smarter homes that are more energy-efficient. Use cases across home automation, connected health, and energy management highlight how IoT is transforming everyday life
Framework Components:
The Smart Home & IoT: Operator-Managed Industry Framework includes two main components:
Visualizing the evolution of Smart Homes as connectivity hubs, improving interoperability between existing and emerging technologies.
Supporting residential service providers with a Managed Wi-Fi reference architecture that incorporates IoT and Matter components, guiding vendors to meet interoperability standards.
This framework serves as an evolving reference implementation for the Smart Home, building upon WBA’s Operator Managed Wi-Fi to offer a roadmap for future developments
Key Updates in Matter 1.4 (November 2024):
The Matter 1.4 (released November 2024) update introduces Enhanced Multi-Admin, enabling smoother integration across platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Alexa, thus improving setup efficiency. It also expands support for energy management devices such as solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers, addressing the growing demand for sustainable smart homes
WBA’s Key Initiatives:
WBA’s ongoing initiatives, like the Wi-Fi HaLow trials and the OpenRoaming for IoT – FIDO Device Onboarding Framework, simplify smart device deployments, ensuring both efficiency and security
Future Directions:
- IoT & Smart Home in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs): WBA members are working on a proposal for the 2025 roadmap, focusing on MDU centralized management and ensuring technology convergence, interoperability, and viable business cases for service providers
- Operator Managed Wi-Fi: Entering its third phase, the team will focus on compliance and testing to ensure that equipment functions match the advertised specifications.
The IoT & Smart Home Project Team invites industry players to stay engaged with the upcoming work.
Reach out to the WBA Program Management Office (PMO) with this form. Be part of shaping the future of Wi-Fi.
