London, 28 May 2020: The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) today invited all organisations in the Wi-Fi ecosystem to join WBA OpenRoaming and to become part of a globally available Wi-Fi federation that offers the 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. WBA OpenRoaming removes the need to search for Wi-Fi networks, to repeatedly enter or create login credentials or to constantly reconnect or re-register for public Wi-Fi.
For organisations and businesses, WBA OpenRoaming provides the opportunity to create new commercial business models and innovative services with speed and simplicity.
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. We invite venues, vendors and operator/identity providers to join WBA OpenRoaming and revolutionise Wi-Fi usage around the world.”
WBA OpenRoaming simplifies Wi-Fi, much like the cellular roaming experience. Companies who join WBA OpenRoaming can allow 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. From enterprises to coffee shops, concert venues to connected cars, WBA OpenRoaming creates a world where Wi-Fi users move from one network to another without needing to constantly re-register or sign in.
GlobalReach is one of the pioneering companies and members of the WBA supporting the WBA OpenRoaming standards. Chris Spencer, GlobalReach Technology said: “OpenRoaming will enable enterprises to transform the way they provide Wi-Fi access to customers, employees and guests seamlessly and securely without the barriers of landing pages and passwords. For public venues this can be a platform to help attract, engage and reward customers and for private enterprise offices this can make registration for Wi-Fi access frictionless removing an unnecessary task from visitor reception staff or for IT staff for employees.
For operators where demand for high-speed data usage is outpacing the current capability and coverage of cellular networks, OpenRoaming is an easy way to use under-exploited fibre backhaul capacity in enterprises, remain in control and improve their user experience.”
WBA OpenRoaming defines the industry policies and standards that will manage the federation. 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)
- Cyber security, consisting of Public Key Infrastructure and RadSec provides the certificate policy, management and brokerage services
- Network automation, facilitated by an automated roaming consortium framework and policy and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint
Companies who join WBA OpenRoaming are included in a federation of identity and network providers. Equipment vendors, identity providers, venues and operators – as well as private and public Wi-Fi networks – can join WBA OpenRoaming and immediately become part of the global ecosystem and help to shape the future of the federation.