WBA OpenRoaming aims for one global network

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has invited all organisations in the Wi-Fi ecosystem to join WBA OpenRoaming and become part of a globally available Wi-Fi federation that offers an automatic and secure connection of billions of devices to millions of Wi-Fi networks.

WBA OpenRoaming provides a new, global, standards-led approach, removing public-guest Wi-Fi connectivity barriers and bringing greater convenience and security to the wireless ecosystem.

It also removes the need to search for Wi-Fi networks, to repeatedly enter or create login credentials, or to constantly reconnect or re-register to public Wi-Fi.

Declaring WBA OpenRoaming as “open for business”, WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues said: “Wi-Fi is already arguably the most successful wireless technology of our time, but with these globally agreed standards and policies, we can take public-guest Wi-Fi to another level in terms of ease of use and global availability.”

“The WBA OpenRoaming creates an open framework for all types of players to join and develop their Wi-Fi services and create new business opportunities,” he added.

“We invite venues, vendors and operator/identity providers to join WBA OpenRoaming and revolutionise Wi-Fi usage around the world.”

Companies that join WBA OpenRoaming can enable end users to automatically connect on any Wi-Fi network managed by a federation member — no more SSID-password guessing games, insecure login credentials or reconnecting to public Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi users will be able to move from one network to another without needing to constantly re-register or sign in.

The WBA OpenRoaming framework and standards are based on the following features:

• Cloud federation, consisting of a global database of networks and identities, dynamic discovery and the Wireless Roaming Intermediary Exchange (WRIX).
• Cybersecurity, consisting of Public Key Infrastructure and RadSec providing the certificate policy, management and brokerage services.
• Network automation, facilitated by an automated roaming consortium framework and policy and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint.
   

Members of WBA supporting the WBA OpenRoaming standards include: Airmesh, Airties, Aprecomm, American Tower, Aptilo, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Broadcom Inc, Cisco, Cityroam, Comcast, CommScope, Deutsche Telekom, Eduroam, Eleven Software, GlobalReachTechnology, Google, Hub One, Hughes Systique Corp, Intel Corporation, IT&E, m3connect, Nomosphere, Orange, Purple Wi-Fi, Samsung, Single Digits, Sun Global, Veniam, WifiCoin and Zephyrtel.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Kaspars Grinvalds