Discover Wi-Fi
Operators
Fixed, mobile and hotspot operators around the globe are deploying Wi-Fi® in business models tailored to fit their unique needs. Wi-Fi’s proven performance and ubiquity have created an opportunity for operators to address a large share of users’ wireless data needs and to deliver content outside the home. Wi-Fi is being used to improve coverage, offload data traffic, increase network density, reach consumers with paid content outside the home, increase loyalty and reduce roaming costs.
The Wi-Fi industry is responding to the breadth of need with a tremendous level of innovation. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Vantage™ and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ offer an ongoing evolution of Wi-Fi to enhance operator networks.
Wi-Fi brings unique characteristics and a roadmap of advancements that offer many benefits for operators. Already a power tool to increase capacity in operator networks by leveraging the ubiquity of Wi-Fi in mobile devices, the roadmap of continued enhancements under development will ensure that Wi-Fi technology continues to drive opportunity for operators.
With strong representation from operators, equipment makers, and consumer electronics makers in the organization, the Wi-Fi Alliance® collaboration forum is uniquely suited to bring about technology innovations that meet operator requirements. To ensure alignment and deliver the most valuable programs across the operator ecosystem, Wi-Fi Alliance has liaison agreements with other operator-focused organizations including CTIA – The Wireless Association®, GSM Association, Wireless Broadband Alliance, and CableLabs®.
Shape the future of Wi-Fi. Join Wi-Fi Alliance today.
Passpoint is just the beginning. Our members are developing enhancements to Wi-Fi that are of strategic importance to operator networks. Numerous operators from around the world participate in the Wi-Fi Alliance to help shape our technologies and certification programs with the unique needs of service providers in mind. These groups also provide an opportunity to incorporate end-user feedback in order to enhance the Wi-Fi experience.
The benefits of Wi-Fi Alliance membership extend well beyond participating in the industry's only certification program. Learn more about Wi-Fi Alliance membership or contact us.
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A day without Wi-Fi
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What Wi-Fi trends are expected in 2020?
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Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™: Seamless, secure, easy-to-use Wi-Fi® hotspots
- How does Passpoint support service provider branding and customer relationships?
Passpoint enabled mobile devices can choose networks based on a list of preferred (direct or partner) providers, specific services and/or the best performance characteristics. For service providers offering a managed experience, seamless authentication is a valuable element, and Passpoint networks also support deployments where a click-through screen is essential for acceptance of terms and conditions or branding.
- How does Passpoint equipment support Wi-Fi roaming?
Passpoint devices use industry-agreed uniform mechanisms for discovering and creating secured connections to hotspots. This allows a subscriber to experience seamless Wi-Fi connectivity to a hotspot anywhere in the world a user’s provider has roaming agreements. Passpoint is specified as a requirement for the Wireless Broadband Alliance’s industry work on Wi-Fi roaming.
- What standards does Passpoint draw on?
Passpoint is based on Hotspot 2.0 technology and makes use of elements of IEEE 802.1X, 802.11u, 802.11i, WPA2-Enterprise and WPA3™-Enterprise security, as well as some Wi-Fi Alliance defined mechanisms.
- Who created the Passpoint program?
Members of Wi-Fi Alliance created the program. The group which developed Passpoint includes service providers, mobile operators, fixed line operators, and makers of mobile devices and infrastructure equipment.
- What does Passpoint mean for end users?
In short, Passpoint provides a better Wi-Fi user experience while mobile. Users with certified Passpoint devices can enjoy the benefits of streamlined network selection and secure connectivity at Passpoint enabled hotspots. Passpoint-enabled devices operate based on user preference.
- What does Passpoint bring to hospitality?
Hospitality chains may own many brands but a single consolidated rewards program. Without Passpoint, either the rewards program SSID needs to be added at every hotel or users’ phones must be configured with several SSIDs. Passpoint can function with a single profile that identifies the rewards program instead of a hotel SSID. When a user visits an associated property, their device will automatically identify the access point and connect.
- Can existing equipment be upgraded for Passpoint?
The hardware and software platform of a given device determines whether it can be upgraded in the field. Equipment that has previously undergone certification testing can be updated and resubmitted for Passpoint certification.
- Does Passpoint support voice over Wi-Fi?
The scope of Passpoint testing is to ensure that the mechanisms for seamless discovery and creation of a secured link are implemented correctly. It is application-agnostic.
- Are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products protected by security?
Yes. All Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products are tested for WPA2 or WPA3. The only way to be sure that a product meets the latest security standards is to purchase only Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products.
- Which Wi-Fi Vantage technologies help quickly connect to another AP or another network?
Wi-Fi Agile Multiband: Fast Basic Service Set (BSS) Transition, also known as Fast Transition, is based on IEEE 802.11r. Fast Transition enables devices to reauthenticate quickly with WPA2 security when roaming within the same Wi-Fi network, improving experience with latency sensitive applications such as voice over Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi Optimized Connectivity: Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) Authentication is a mechanism defined in IEEE 802.11ai to enable fast authentication to APs using WPA2-Enterprise security.
- Why should end users purchase Wi-Fi Vantage devices?
Devices that are certified for Wi-Fi Vantage represent the most recent and interoperable Wi-Fi technologies for managed networks. Users will experience fewer connection interruptions during calls or video streaming, even while traversing through a transportation hub like a large airport. These devices, when used in a Wi-Fi Vantage enabled network, bring a more seamless and consistent connection and therefore a better mobile experience.
- What is a managed network?
Managed networks are Wi-Fi networks, such as those operated in airports, stadiums, schools, office buildings, retail and hotel locations and other venues, that are “managed” by network administrators to optimize their coverage, performance, and network access. These networks are frequently open to the public or offer access to subscribers.
- What features are available in Wi-Fi Vantage devices today?
Wi-Fi Vantage will evolve over time to introduce more advanced features as they become available. Today, all Wi-Fi Vantage devices contain the following enhanced feature sets to offer users the best experience when connecting to managed Wi-Fi networks:
- Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint with Online Signup and Policy Provisioning
- Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac with advanced features of beamforming, concurrent dual band operation, and low density parity check
Wi-Fi Vantage adds the following feature sets to devices in 2018:
- Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Agile Multiband, enabling devices to quickly identify and transition to a recommended AP, frequency band, or channel that gives the best connection
- Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Optimized Connectivity improves roaming within a Wi-Fi network or to another network through optimized discovery, authentication, and reduced management frames
- What features are planned for Wi-Fi Vantage devices in future generations?
Future generations of Wi-Fi Vantage will add enhancements in network access, frequency band and channel management, and reduced connection times, resulting in improved roaming and management of Wi-Fi networks.
- What are the tests included in the Converged Wireless RF Profile?
The comprehensive over-the-air testing program provides detailed measurements on key parameters, described in layperson terms below. The measurements are taken in a 360-degree environment in order to create “real-world” conditions:
- Measurements to provide information about the reach of a Wi-Fi radio signal sent by a converged phone or AP, called transmit power (TRP, or Total Radiated Power)
- Measurements to provide information about how well the Wi-Fi radio can detect an incoming signal in a converged phone or AP, called receive sensitivity (TIS, or Total Isotropic Sensitivity)
In addition, the program includes:
- Measurement of the signals ahead of the Wi-Fi antenna, called conducted power and sensitivity
- Measurement of the reduction in sensitivity (desensitization) of a Wi-Fi receiver caused by the presence of an active cellular transmitter, and to ensure that the performance of the Wi-Fi receiver is within acceptable limits
- Measurements of the desensitization of a cellular receiver caused by the presence of an active Wi-Fi transmitter, and to ensure that the performance of the cellular receiver is within acceptable limits
To complete the testing a device must also be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for core Wi-Fi interoperability and WPA2™ security, and CTIA certified for cellular performance.
- What is the benefit of the Converged Wireless RF Profile Test to carriers?
This industry-supported program provides detailed information about the RF performance of the Wi-Fi radio in a converged handset, as well as how the cellular and Wi-Fi radios impact one another. It provides a uniform evaluation approach that enables a standard way to contrast and compare converged devices.
- What is the Converged Wireless Group RF Profile Test?
The Converged Wireless Group RF Profile Test is a test plan that was jointly developed by CTIA® and Wi-Fi Alliance® to provide detailed radio frequency performance profile in a mixed-network (Wi-Fi and Cellular) environment. Manufacturers of converged handsets and Wi-Fi networking infrastructure devices (access points) can participate in this test program to provide carriers with independent evaluations of their equipment, and carriers can use the test reports to compare handsets from different manufacturers. Completion of CWG testing does not result in a Wi-Fi certification.
