Facilitating Global Wi-Fi Roaming
The roaming-related work accomplished by WBA and the collective strengths of its members have been instrumental in the growth of global Wi-Fi roaming. As an industry catalyst, WBA facilitates access to a quality global Wi-Fi footprint, huge subscriber base, unique expertise and track-record, award-winning technical enablers. WBA also provides opportunities to engage global partners and influence the industry. It offers significant value proposition to all wireless broadband operators and ecosystem partners who are interested in enabling seamless Wi-Fi experience, delivering global Wi-Fi roaming and integrating Wi-Fi across 3G and WiMAX for the benefit of end-users.
Operators with Wi-Fi Networks
Operators who own public Wi-Fi networks whether as a standalone business or as a key complement to their wireless and/or broadband networks harness the advantage of WBA as an ideal forum to enhance their global coverage and inbound/ outbound roaming opportunities for their users. Besides extending technical enablers and providing templates for the operators, WBA has developed common user experience guidelines to make it easier for the end-users to locate, identify and connect to hotspots while roaming. WBA also operates a global Hotspot Directory service for its members to help end-users locate all the WBA member hotspots around the world swiftly and with convenience.
Operators without Wi-Fi Networks
WBA also assists operators that are focused on mobile and/or broadband technologies (3G/ UMTS, CDMA, WiMAX, Cable, xDSL etc) and may not own any hotspots to leverage on the enablers created by WBA and the global Wi-Fi footprint of its members to offer Wi-Fi roaming and mobile data offload to the users. In doing so, WBA helps mobile operators address the challenges and opportunities created by an explosive growth in mobile data usage and increasing availability of the dual-mode 3G/Wi-Fi devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, game consoles, cameras etc. Similarly, it helps WiMAX and fixed broadband (Cable/xDSL) operators offer seamless Wi-Fi roaming to their subscribers. The key enablers created by WBA to facilitate intra-technology roaming and data offload include WISPr 2.0 and WRIX v1.04.
Other Ecosystem Partner
WBA proactively engages the non-operator ecosystem partners – roaming hub vendors /clearinghouse providers, technology vendors and other partners with a commitment in enabling seamless roaming experience, data offload etc. While the partner members of WBA can directly join ongoing initiatives in developing roaming enablers, WBA also invites non-member organizations to participate in open industry trials from time to time. Some key technical enablers developed by WBA including WRIX and WISPr 2.0 specifications have been made public to benefit the wider industry. To facilitate bilateral roaming and other engagements, WBA organizes special 1-on-1 meetings and networking session for its members from around the world during every WBA Roundtable Conference hosted twice a year. Join Us.
