Today the WBA launched its latest case study profiling Boingo Wireless, an active member of the Alliance and a key driver of Next Generation Hotspot Deployments. Here is a summary:

What is NGH?

Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) is a Wireless Broadband Alliance initiative which aims to deliver a Wi-Fi experience that is as easy and secure as that of the cellular network. Devices will be able to seamlessly roam between Wi-Fi hotspots and the cellular network, and, by relying on profile-based authentication using a SIM card or other secure credentials, will require no intervention from users. NGH trials have been ongoing since June 2011 and as a result, substantial volumes of devices were certified as compliant.

Enter, Boingo Wireless

As the world’s leading airport Wi-Fi provider, Boingo Wireless sees millions of people pass through its networks every day. In 2013, it was the first organization to deploy a publicly accessible Next Generation Hotspot test bed in Chicago O’Hare – one of the busiest airports in the world. Boingo invited mobile carriers, Wi-Fi operators and handset manufacturers, especially those already participating in the WBA Next Generation Hotspot trials, to use the network for end-to-end testing.
After a highly successful trial, the company launched Passpoint-enabled networks at an additional 22 airports in the United States in February 2014, including LAX, New York’s JFK and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which see 445 million passengers pass through annually. Boingo is now launching Passpoint networks at its other managed and operated networks worldwide as they complete the necessary upgrades.
Dr. Derek Peterson, Boingo’s Chief Technology Officer, says that Boingo has a clear roadmap to expand its NGH footprint over the coming months, stating that it will “continue to add more airports, more devices and more roaming agreements.”

The Challenges

There have been stages during the development of NGH where a stand-off between service providers and device vendors looked inevitable. Christian Gunning, VP of corporate communications at Boingo, described it as a “chicken and egg issue.” Carriers are waiting for more Passpoint-certified devices on the market before upgrading their networks, and device vendors are waiting for NGH-compliant networks before they commit to certifying their devices. Boingo addressed this by simply “jumping in and making it happen.”
There is also the question of how the players within the ecosystem will co-exist, with devices hopping between cellular networks and various hotspots, new agreements and relationships will inevitably emerge. Four different players have been identified: the venues who want to gain insight and provide a valuable service; the network players who want to establish communication; the operators; and the device manufacturers. Boingo has focused on being a master of one.

The Industry

When it comes to Next Generation Hotspot, Boingo is one player in a wider team. The Wireless Broadband Alliance has almost 100 members spanning all sectors of the ecosystem. On top of the many members, the Wi-Fi Alliance has worked in close partnership with the WBA throughout the process in order to ensure there is a robust device certification process in place. From hardware vendors and device manufacturers, to mobile service providers and cloud aggregators, the industry has come together, united behind one common goal.
However, Boingo has taken it upon itself to become a true advocate of the technology; drawing on its wealth of experience, it has opted to take the first to step out and explore this brave new world. While Boingo might only be part of a larger movement, its contribution has been of paramount importance to the evolution of Next Generation Hotspot.

The Future

Dr. Peterson hints at Boingo’s involvement in a major project in Brazil, deploying both distributed antenna systems (DAS) and NGH ahead of major international sporting events. Watch this space for more information…