The Wireless Broadband Alliance has issued guidelines on what requirements a Carrier Wi-Fi network needs to provide a consistent user experience.
The white paper, which follows consultation with almost 20 vendors and operators including Ericsson, Huawei, Ruckus Wireless & Orange, is an attempt to give clarity to a technology that is receiving ever greater demand as networks turn to it for cellular offload and new services.
The guidelines found a range of capabilities are needed for networks to sufficiently scale to meet expectations. These include consistent user experience, a fully integrated end-to-end network and network management.
Philippe Lucas, Orange Senior Vice-President Standardisation and Ecocystems Development, who lead this project along with Ruckus Wireless said: “Achieving a common vision for the future of Carrier Wi-Fi and what needs to be put in place to make it a reality is imperative, and we are delighted to be involved in such an important initiative. These guidelines encompass input from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem and we are confident that we have addressed the key issues and laid the groundwork for the deployment of these networks. This will secure Wi-Fi’s reputation as one of the most convenient and accessible connectivity options for the end user.”
The WBA will now send the white paper to other trade bodies for feedback and suggestions on how to develop Carrier Wi-Fi further.
Shrikant Shenwai, CEO of WBA, said: “To improve and enhance the user experience and deliver the desired services and a superior user experience has always been at the forefront in terms of the WBA’s priorities. By defining Carrier Wi-Fi, the industry can now work together to put the building blocks in place to deliver advanced Wi-Fi networks. This work will help ensure that consumers connecting to a carrier Wi-Fi network will be exposed to the best user experience possible, regardless of time or location.”
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