Due to the exponential growth and demand of data and video usage by customers, there was a need to accommodate the increased demand for more bandwidth by leveraging Wi-Fi.

Unlike cellular networks that use limited licensed spectrum over a broad area, Wi-Fi networks use unlicensed spectrum in a localized area and can enable service providers to scale capacity more cost effectively to meet market demand. However, in current Wi-Fi Hotspot networks there are three key challenges:

• Connectivity: Simple connectivity with minimal to no user intervention
• Roaming: Easy and seamless access and use of Wi-Fi networks while roaming, inbound and outbound
• Security : Using a secure link layer encryption of data usage and auto-authentication

As part of the Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) initiative, WBA members were collaborating to conduct a multi-operator NGH trial to test Hotspot 2.0 (HS2.0) capabilities and Wireless Roaming Intermediary eXchange (WRIX) Wi-Fi roaming standards, in an end-to-end live environment.

The NGH Trial program has been running since 2011 in collaboration with the Wi-Fi Alliance, the WBA and its Members and was divided in to 4 phases that evolved with the different maturity stages of HS2.0 releases.
In Phase 4 which has recently completed, the goal was to provide a ‘real-world’ end-to-end user experience of the wider HS2.0 functionality from widely available devices and operating systems in a production environment from Operators. This included:

• Validating that the (HS2.0) equipment actually meets end user requirements when connected to ‘live’ operator network elements, for example like authentication.
• Testing the policy, online sign-up, provisioning, authentication and roaming capabilities of the equipment, based on the HS2.0 capabilities.
• Ensuring that the functionality is backward compatible to earlier releases – for example HS2.0 release 1 devices working with HS2.0 release 2 infrastructure.
• Identifying any additional data elements that need to be included to support billing and accounting
• Identify any required updates to the WRIX specifications and to any other WBA guidelines and documentation.

Testing devices in live production environments enables Operators to know what to expect from the ‘Production’ form of a device. More than 40 diverse issues and gaps were identified as part of this latter trial and the WBA and its members worked directly with vendors to successfully solve a number of issues.

To help the industry and to foster worldwide commercial deployments, going forward the WBA will be launching its Carrier Wireless Services Certification (CWSC) Program, utilising WBA Authorised Test Labs which will provide an ongoing and independent test bed for Operators and Device vendors to work together to solve any ongoing issues and gain interoperability Certification of the equipment. This will enable the vendor to approach other carriers with confidence and for Operators to be able to ensure better customer experience ahead of launch. Watch this space for more information on the launch of CWSC on October 3rd 2017, or to find out more about the WBA’s programs or the ongoing NGH Trials please contact pmo@wballiance.com