Public Network at Fira Gran Via Will Enable Automatic Authentication of Mobile Devices onto NGH Wi-Fi Network for Subscribers of Over 30 Networks Including; AT&T, BT, China Mobile, Fon, KT, Orange, Portugal Telecom, SK Telecom, Telstra and TELUS

London, UK – 19th February 2015 – The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the industry association focused on driving the next generation Wi-Fi® experience, and the GSMA today announced that they will deploy Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint, based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 specification, on the Wi-Fi network at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, Spain from 2-5 March. The network, which will also be supported by the Wi-Fi Alliance®, will allow attendees using Passpoint-enabled iOS and Android from participating mobile operators to automatically roam onto the network using secure credentials and also benefit from a secure Wi-Fi connection.

The platform, provided by Cisco, will demonstrate the full range of NGH and Passpoint capabilities allowing subscribers of these carriers to roam seamlessly onto the public Wi-Fi network at the Fira Gran Via venue. The network will support subscribers of operators including; 2 Degrees, AIS Thailand, AT&T, Bell Mobility, Boingo Wireless, BT, China Mobile, Comcast, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), Fon, Idea Cellular, KT, Linktel Corp, Mobily, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Mobilink, MTN Nigeria, NTT DOCOMO, Omantel, Orange, HKT, Portugal Telecom, Telkom Indonesia, SK Telecom, Sprint, Swisscom, Shaw Communications, Telstra, TELUS, Towerstream, True Corporation Plc. and Videotron. Additional technology partners include Accuris Networks, BSG Wireless, CableLabs, Front Porch, Spirent and Syniverse. The most up-to-date list of operators participating, and instructions on how subscribers can configure their devices, can be found at: http://www.hotspot2experience.com

“Wi-Fi has been embraced by the cellular community as technology which neatly complements existing infrastructure investment. By making the user experience, security and roaming agreements the same as their cellular counterparts, it now offers the perfect solution to provide additional capacity and coverage for operators,” said Shrikant Shenwai, CEO of the WBA. “The NGH Live Experience in Barcelona is the result of hard work by the Wireless Broadband Alliance and its members from across the value chain. We are delighted to be working with the GSMA and our partners to demonstrate these capabilities at the flagship event in the mobile industry calendar.”

“There is no indication that the proliferation of smart devices, and consumers’ appetite for data show any signs of abating. As a result, NGH Wi-Fi technology represents an ideal solution for mobile operators who wish to augment their existing network infrastructure with a technology that is convenient, accessible and readily available, and uses their existing installed base of SIM cards to make attachment an effortless process” said Dan Warren, Senior Director of Technology at the GSMA.

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

About the Wireless Broadband Alliance
Founded in 2003, the aim of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is to secure an outstanding user experience through the global deployment of next generation Wi-Fi. Today, membership includes major fixed operators such as BT, Comcast and Time Warner Cable; seven of the top 10 mobile operator groups (by revenue) and leading technology companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Huawei and Intel. The WBA Board includes Arqiva, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, BT, Cisco Systems, Comcast, iPass, KT Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, Orange and Ruckus Wireless.

For more information, please visit wballiance.com or follow the WBA on Twitter: @wballiance

Press Contacts:
Wireless Broadband Alliance
Ed Howson
ed.howson@temono.com
+44(0) 7740 173 051