wba annual industry report - wireless broadband alliance · 2019-06-24 · major programmes:...

WBA Annual Industry Report 2019

Source: Wireless Broadband AllianceAuthor(s): Monica Paolini, Senza FiliIssue date: October 2018Version: 1.0

Report Title: WBA Annual Industry Report 2019 Issue Date: October 2018 Version: 1.0

2 Wireless Broadband Alliance Confidential & Proprietary

Copyright © 2018 Wireless Broadband Alliance

ABOUT THE WIRELESS BROADBAND ALLIANCE

Founded in 2003, the mission of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is to resolve business

issues and enable collaborative opportunities for service providers, enterprises and cities, enabling

them to enhance the customer experience on Wi-Fi and significant adjacent technologies. Building on

our heritage of NGH and carrier Wi-Fi, the WBA will continue to drive and support the adoption of

Next Generation Wi-Fi services across the entire public Wi-Fi ecosystem, having a focus on four

major programmes: Carrier Wi-Fi Services, Next Generation Wireless & 5G, IoT, and Connected

Cities. Today, membership includes major fixed operators such as BT, Comcast and Charter

Communication; seven of the top 10 mobile operator groups (by revenue) and leading technology

companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Huawei Technologies, Google and Intel. WBA member

operators collectively serve more than 2 billion subscribers and operate more than 30 million hotspots

globally.

The WBA Board includes AT&T, Boingo Wireless, BT, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Intel, KT

Corporation, Liberty Global, NTT DOCOMO and Orange. For a complete list of current WBA

members, please click here.

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ABOUT SENZA FILI

Senza Fili provides advisory support on wireless technologies and services. At Senza Fili we have in-

depth expertise in financial modeling, market forecasts and research, strategy, business plan support,

and due diligence. Our client base is international and spans the entire value chain: clients include

wireline, fixed wireless, and mobile operators, enterprises and other vertical players, vendors, system

integrators, investors, regulators, and industry associations. We provide a bridge between

technologies and services, helping our clients assess established and emerging technologies, use

these technologies to support new or existing services, and build solid, profitable business models.

Independent advice, a strong quantitative orientation, and an international perspective are the

hallmarks of our work.

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UNDERTAKINGS AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

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warranties of merchantability, fitness for particular purpose, or non-infringement.

In addition, the WBA (and all other organizations who may have contributed to this Document) makes

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liabilities of the WBA (and all other organizations who may have contributed to this Document)

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Neither the WBA nor any of the other organizations who may have contributed to this Document will

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comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind, including (without

limitation) compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, loss

of or damage to property and claims of third-parties.




CONTENTS

ABOUT THE WIRELESS BROADBAND ALLIANCE ........................................................................... 2

ABOUT SENZA FILI ............................................................................................................................ 2

Undertakings and limitation of liability .................................................................................................. 3

Contents.............................................................................................................................................. 4

Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 6

Tables ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 8

1 Introduction: Wi-Fi Keeps Pushing the Envelope .......................................................................... 9

2 A year in Wi-Fi. Interview with JR Wilson, Chairman of the Wireless Broadband Alliance ........... 12

3 The Evolution of Wi-Fi................................................................................................................. 14

3.1 Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax): The Next Generation in Performance ........................................... 14

Conversation: Planning the Transition to 802.11ax Interview with Dongjun Lee, Director of Network

Strategy, KT ................................................................................................................................... 17

3.2 WiGig and HaLow: Expansion in Millimeter Wave and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) .......... 19

3.3 Evolution of Roaming and Mobile Device Management for Advanced Carrier Wi-Fi Services19

3.4 WPA3: The Next Generation in Security ............................................................................... 20

4 The Expanding Wi-Fi Ecosystems .............................................................................................. 20

4.1 Home Networks .................................................................................................................... 21

4.2 Enterprise and Venue Owners .............................................................................................. 23

4.3 Carriers and Service Providers ............................................................................................. 24

4.4 IoT and IIoT .......................................................................................................................... 25

4.5 Connected Cities .................................................................................................................. 26

4.6 Connecting the Unconnected ............................................................................................... 26

5 Wi-Fi Roaming: A Better User Experience and Revenue Opportunity with NGH and Passpoint .. 26

Conversation: Passpoint’s Prime Time Interview with Melody Eclavea, Director of Interconnection

Agreements at AT&T...................................................................................................................... 30

5.1 Passpoint and NGH at Mobile World Congress 2018: Case Study of Wi-Fi in a Hyper-Dense

Environment ................................................................................................................................... 32

5.2 Expanding Passpoint to Enterprise Roaming Relationships ................................................. 33

5.3 Intermediary Hubs Create a Roaming Marketplace .............................................................. 33

6 The Next Frontier: IoT ................................................................................................................. 35

6.1 The IoT Addressable Market for Wi-Fi .................................................................................. 35




6.2 Meeting the IoT Challenges .................................................................................................. 37

6.3 IoT Roaming with NGH, Passpoint and WRIX ...................................................................... 38

6.4 Passpoint Enables Asset Tracking ....................................................................................... 38

6.5 Optimizing Wi-Fi Roaming for IoT ......................................................................................... 39

7 Connecting the Unconnected: Smart Cities, Rural Areas and Developing Countries .................. 41

Conversation: With the People, not to the People: Smart Cities Create Communities Interview with

Julie Snell, Bristol is Open ............................................................................................................. 43

8 Expanding Wi-Fi Reach in New Unlicensed Bands ..................................................................... 47

9 The future of Wi-Fi beyond 802.11ax .......................................................................................... 49

9.1 Edge Computing ................................................................................................................... 49

9.2 Network Slicing..................................................................................................................... 51

9.3 Blockchain ............................................................................................................................ 51

9.4 Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Analytics .......................................... 52

10 Wireless Convergence: Wi-Fi and 5G Better Together ............................................................ 53

10.1 Technology Differentiation ............................................................................................... 54

10.2 Closing the Gap ............................................................................................................... 54

10.3 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ................................................................................................................ 55

10.4 Convergence beyond Wi-Fi 6 and 5G .............................................................................. 56

10.5 Integrating Wi-Fi and Cellular .......................................................................................... 57

Conversation: Why We Need Convergence Interview with Dr. Derek Peterson, CTO, Boingo

Wireless ......................................................................................................................................... 59

11 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 61

WBA Industry survey: methodology ................................................................................................... 62

References ........................................................................................................................................ 63

Acronyms and abbreviations ............................................................................................................. 64

Next Year in Wi-Fi and Convergence at the WBA: Activities and Focus Areas .................................. 68

Wi-Fi 6: New Features ....................................................................................................................... 69

The Building Blocks of Wi-Fi Roaming .............................................................................................. 70

Next Generation Hotspot Milestones ................................................................................................. 71




FIGURES

Figure 1: WBA Industry Survey: Confidence in Wi-Fi ............................................................................................. 9

Figure 2. Global IP traffic by Access Technology and Hotspots Worldwide. Source: Cisco VNI ......................... 10

Figure 3. WBA Industry Survey: New 802.11ax Features .................................................................................... 16

Figure 4. Starbucks Reserve at Jongro Tower, the largest Starbucks location in South Korea, and a KT 11ax hotspot. Source: Starbucks .......................................................................................................... 18

Figure 5. WBA Industry Survey: Meeting Customer Expectations in In-Home Wi-Fi Services ............................ 21

Figure 6. WBA Industry Survey: In-Home Wi-Fi Services ..................................................................................... 22

Figure 7. WBA Industry Survey: Development Challenges .................................................................................. 24

Figure 8. WBA Industry Survey: Drivers to Wi-Fi Deployments ............................................................................ 27

Figure 9: WBA Industry Survey: NGH Passpoint Adoption................................................................................... 28

Figure 10. WBA Industry Survey: Roaming in City Wi-Fi Networks ...................................................................... 29

Figure 11. WBA Industry Survey: Traffic Growth in Urban Areas ......................................................................... 29

Figure 12. WISPr and Passpoint Connections. Source: AT&T ............................................................................. 31

Figure 13. Screenshot of a Mobile Phone Connected with Passpoint at MWC. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance ......................................................................................................................................... 32

Figure 14. The Wi-Fi Roaming Hub Connects the Visited and the Home Wi-Fi Networks. Source: Syniverse .. 33

Figure 15. WBA Industry Survey: Monetization .................................................................................................... 35

Figure 16. Global Mobile Devices in Use. Source: Cisco VNI .............................................................................. 36

Figure 17. WBA Industry Survey: Applications Driving Network and Traffic Growth ............................................ 36

Figure 18. The role of Wi-Fi Aggregators and Roaming Hubs to Link Users in the Visited Networks to their Home Network. Source: Senza Fili ......................................................................................................... 41

Figure 19. Clifton Bridge, Bristol. Source: Bristol Is Open .................................................................................... 44

Figure 20. Bristol Is Open Stakeholders. Source: Bristol Is Open ........................................................................ 45

Figure 21. WBA Industry Survey: Public Wi-Fi Challenges .................................................................................. 46

Figure 22. WBA Industry Survey: Public Wi-Fi Services....................................................................................... 46

Figure 23. Illustration of the Spectrum Shortfall per Region, by Year and Demand level. Source: Quotient ....... 47

Figure 24. Economic Value of Unlicensed Spectrum in the US, in Billions. Source: Telecom Advisory Services ...................................................................................................................................................... 48

Figure 25. WBA Industry Survey: Spectrum and regulatory policy ....................................................................... 49

Figure 26. WBA Industry Survey: Multi-access Edge Computing ......................................................................... 50

Figure 27. Wi-Fi Access with Blockhain. Source: Ammbr ..................................................................................... 52

Figure 28. WBA Industry Survey: Cloud, Big Data, AI, Digital Identity, Blockchain .............................................. 53

Figure 29. Enhanced 802.11 Capabilities Compared with IMT-Advanced and IMT-2020. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance ...................................................................................................................... 54

Figure 30. 802.11ax and 5G Standardization and Adoption timeline. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance..... 55

Figure 31. WBA Industry Survey: Network Transformation and 5G ..................................................................... 56

Figure 32. WBA Industry Survey: Wireless Technologies Planned Deployments ................................................ 57

Figure 33. WBA Industry Survey: Licensed and Unlicensed Convergence and Coexistence .............................. 58

Figure 34. Network Convergence. Source: Boingo Wireless ................................................................................ 60

https://senzafili.sharepoint.com/sites/Main/Shared%20Documents/Projects/WBA/Draft/WBA%20Annual%20Industry%20Report%202018_181028v1.docx#_Toc528535600










































TABLES

Table 1. Wi-Fi 6 Benefits. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance, Senza Fili ....................................................... 14

Table 2. Technology Evolution with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Source: Intel, Qualcomm, Wireless Broadband Alliance, Senza Fili ...................................................................................................................................... 15

Table 3. WPA3 Benefits. Source: Senza Fili ......................................................................................................... 20

Table 4. Wi-Fi at Barcelona's MWC 2018. Source: Cisco .................................................................................... 32

Table 5. Which Use Cases Need IoT Roaming? Source: Senza Fili ................................................................... 37




EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The WBA Annual Industry Report continues its tradition of bringing you an overview of what

happened over the last year in all things Wi-Fi, and what we should expect for the coming year and

beyond as Wi-Fi keeps evolving, powering new devices and applications, and reaching new users.

The Report’s three top takeaway points

• Wi-Fi growth continues unabated, with Wi-Fi carrying 67% of mobile traffic in the US (Telecom

Advisory Services) and 83% in Japan (Netradar/Wi-Fi NOW), 9 billion Wi-Fi devices in use and 3

billion devices shipped every year (Wi-Fi Alliance). The introduction of 5G will not affect the

prominence of Wi-Fi: Cisco VNI predicts that Wi-Fi as a percentage of global IP traffic will grow

from 41% in 2016 to 46% in 2021.

• In 2018 Next Generation Hotspot and Passpoint saw an adoption breakthrough, with operators

such as AT&T, Charter, Boingo Wireless, Softbank, Sprint and T-Mobile, strengthening their

commitment to these technologies to ensure seamless and safe connectivity for their subscribers

when they visit their partners’ Wi-Fi networks. At the Mobile World Congress Americas in San

Francisco in 2017, attendees used Passpoint for 65% of Wi-Fi connections.

• Wi-Fi 6, the next-generation Wi-Fi technology based on IEEE 802.11ax, is coming soon. We

already have pre-standard equipment and limited commercial deployments and we expect wider

commercial availability in 2019 and final standard specifications by Q4 2019, with the timeline for

Wi-Fi 6 slightly ahead of that for 5G New Radio (NR). The two technologies complement each

other and are both necessary to realize the ITU’s IMT-2020 vision of a pervasive connectivity

fabric that reaches both people and things.

Report Highlights

What to expect next year: Wi-Fi 6 commercial deployments, a push in millimeter-wave (mmW) adoption with WiGig in the 60 GHz, increased Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) activity, new unlicensed spectrum allocations (6 GHz in the US) and further growth of Wi-Fi roaming, with Passpoint becoming mainstream.

Updates on: Wi-Fi ecosystems – home, enterprise and venue owners, carriers and service providers, IoT and IIoT, connected cities, and connecting the unconnected –, Wi-Fi roaming for access and IoT, addressing the digital divide, and Wi-Fi and 5G coexistence and convergence.

Featured interviews: JR Wilson, Chairman of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, plus KT, AT&T, Bristol Is Open and Boingo Wireless.

Beyond Wi-Fi 6: Edge computing, network slicing, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and automation.




1 Introduction: Wi-Fi Keeps Pushing the Envelope

It has been over 20 years since the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ratified the

802.11 standard that is the foundation for Wi-Fi. In a wireless world where technologies rapidly reach

maturity and are consigned to a long-tail legacy decline, Wi-Fi can flaunt its longevity, its expanding

role in the connectivity fabric, and its unremitted commitment to innovation, as attested by the

continued confidence in Wi-Fi (Figure 1).

With the current growth in our connectivity needs and expectations, as captured by the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) IMT-2020 vision, the evolution of Wi-Fi is accelerating and spanning

new directions:

Adoption. Wi-Fi is ubiquitous in mobile devices, with yearly shipment of 3 billion devices (Wi-Fi

Alliance [18]). There are more Wi-Fi devices (9 billion, Wi-Fi Alliance [18]) than people (7.6 billion) or

cellular subscribers (5.2 billion, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) [9]).

By 2021, Cisco Virtual Networking Index (VNI) predicts, there will be 3.5 devices per person [4]. In the

wireless Local area network (LAN) market, revenues are expected to grow to $18.2 billion by 2022

(Dell’Oro, [8]).

Connectivity. Wi-Fi accounts for most wireless traffic today. In the US, Wi-Fi carries 67% of mobile

device traffic (Telecom Advisory Services) [14]. In Japan, mobile subscribers use Wi-Fi for 83% of

their traffic and 75% of connections, and Wi-Fi connections are on average twice as fast as those

over cellular (10 Mbps and 5 Mbps, respectively) according to Netradar/Wi-Fi NOW [12].

User experience. Better performance and functionality continue to improve the quality of experience.

The growing adoption of PasspointTM makes the connection of Wi-Fi devices seamless and effortless,

Figure 1: WBA Industry Survey: Confidence in Wi-Fi

WBA Industry Survey: Confidence in Wi-Fi

Confidence in Wi-Fi grew over the last

year for the majority of respondents

(51%), while for 33% it did not change.

84% of respondents were as confident

or more confident than last year in

investing in Wi-Fi.




and it increases Wi-Fi use in public

networks.

Use cases. The Wi-Fi ecosystem is

widening as new use cases gain

ground, enabled by Wi-Fi’s enhanced

performance. Telecom Advisory

Services estimated that the global

economic value of Wi-Fi was $1,96

trillion in 2018, and that it will raise to

$3.47 billion in 2023 [15].

Internet of things (IoT). Growth in

IoT is a major expansion opportunity

for Wi-Fi, but it also adds challenges

with the massive number and variety

of connected devices to support and

the wide range of requirements to

meet.

Technology evolution. All eyes are

on 802.11ax-based Wi-Fi 6, the new

air interface that will strengthen

Wi-Fi’s ability to meet the IMT-2020

use cases, densification requirements,

and IoT applications, and 802.11ax is

on schedule for ratification in Q4

2019. Additional evolution areas

include improved spectrum use,

integration with 5G and legacy

cellular, and roaming. The introduction

of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA3) in

June 2018 was a major update to

keep up with increased security

requirements from user access, new

use cases and IoT.

Spectrum bands. Wi-Fi needs more

spectrum to meet the increasing traffic

volumes from individual users and IoT

devices. On the technology front,

WiGig is moving Wi-Fi to hyper-dense architectures in the 60 GHz band and HaLow to the long-

range, low-bandwidth IoT services in the 900 MHz. On the regulatory front, expected new allocations

of unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz in the US will significantly increase the spectrum available to

Wi-Fi.

Figure 2. Global IP traffic by Access Technology and Hotspots Worldwide. Source: Cisco VNI




Convergence. Wi-Fi and 5G are evolving in parallel to create a pervasive connectivity fabric for

people and things. But to meet our societal connectivity needs, Wi-Fi, 5G and other wireless access

technologies also have to converge. Convergence will increase the efficiency of wireless networks,

make them more cost effective, and reliably provide the user experience and performance needed to

support existing and new use cases.

This report discusses these trends in the evolution of Wi-Fi, how the role and reach of Wi-Fi are

expanding and how the technology evolution contributes to this expansion. We explore how Wi-Fi, 5G

and other wireless technologies are converging – and must converge – to meet the requirements from

users and IoT services. The report includes interviews with WBA members with hands-on experience

in operating Wi-Fi networks, and it includes case studies and the results of the WBA annual survey to

feel the pulse of the Wi-Fi ecosystem.

The Wireless Broadband Alliance

Since 2003, the WBA has been focused on collaboratively addressing the wireless opportunities and solving the business problems of our members. The WBA is committed to expanding Wi-Fi access and making Wi-Fi connectivity easier for all users, businesses, cities and things, primarily by promoting interoperability among operators, service providers and all other players in the Wi-Fi ecosystem.

Over the last year, WBA has continued to work on NGH (Next Generation Hotspot) and Passpoint, and to promote its adoption among mobile operators and other service providers, and in the enterprise, with a focus on the hospitality, transportation, retail and entertainment verticals, as well as on venue and real estate owners. The WBA is actively working with members and partners to increase NGH-Passpoint adoption and support new use cases and business models. The WBA showcased NGH-Passpoint capabilities in challenging venues such as Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, San Francisco and Los Angeles. At MWC in San Francisco, 65% of Wi-Fi connections were established through Passpoint.

The evolution of Wi-Fi with IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) is another priority area for WBA in preparation of the ratification of the specifications in Q4 2019. Wi-Fi 6 marks a step change in Wi-Fi capabilities and enables Wi-Fi to meet many of the ITU IMT-2020 requirements.

Another focus area is the expansion of the Wi-Fi roaming platform to IoT, to facilitate Wi-Fi’s use where the IoT device is mobile or nomadic. Wi-Fi roaming for IoT devices will accelerate and broaden the market for smart-home applications, enterprise IoT and industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications and automation, location-based services for verticals like healthcare, retail and advertising, and connected car applications.

The WBA is also working on developing best practices and guidelines for in-home Wi-Fi multi-AP networks. With the increasing number of mobile and smart devices in the home, and stronger reliance on wireless access and applications, home networks have to do more and better to meet the expectations of users. This creates opportunity for operators and service providers to offer Wi-Fi services and network management to residential users.

Over the next year, WBA will focus on the launch of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), on its coexistence and integration with other wireless technologies, in licensed and unlicensed bands, and on establishing a stronger foundation for IoT applications using Wi-Fi. Additional projects will focus on millimeter wave (mmW) Wi-Fi using WiGig, Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC), cognitive Wi-Fi, location-based services, Wi-Fi and Long Range (LoRa) integration, connected cars, and security.




2 A year in Wi-Fi. Interview with JR Wilson, Chairman of the Wireless

Broadband Alliance

In this interview, JR Wilson, the Chairman of the WBA, talks about this year’s achievements at the

WBA, and about what we should expect from the WBA and the Wi-Fi ecosystem in the next year.

Question: JR, what do you see as the WBA’s major achievement in the past year?

JR: 2018 was the year that NGH and Passpoint became mainstream [26]. We’re seeing that play out,

in the US and elsewhere. It is the culmination of many years of work to establish a strategy to make

Wi-Fi seamless, secure, and interoperable. Anywhere we deploy NGH, whether it’s at a large event

like Mobile World Congress (MWC) or other events, we’re seeing the levels of consumption and user

experience spike. The user experience improves dramatically.

Question: What makes the user experience better with Passpoint and NGH?

JR: The user doesn’t have to do anything to get connected to the local Wi-Fi network. The SIM- and

EAP-based authentication takes place automatically. I work at AT&T, and as a cellular operator,

AT&T treats Wi-Fi roaming like roaming in a cellular world. With both cellular and Wi-Fi, we like to

steer our customers to the network that has the best coverage and the best quality. When Wi-Fi is the

better network, with the best coverage and the best throughput, in most instances we put customers

onto that network. First, they’re getting a better experience, which should make them happier.

Second, they tend to consume more data and services.

Question: What does the Wi-Fi evolution cover beyond Passpoint?

JR: IEEE 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6 is a very important new step forward in the evolution of Wi-Fi. That’s

where unlicensed and licensed come together. At the WBA we have worked closely with Third

Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and other organizations to ensure licensed and unlicensed

convergence, because this should lend itself to better coverage, lower latency, and higher throughput

– as well as increased cost efficiency and a wider capability set. We just published a paper [22] on

how 802.11ax can deliver 5G use cases while supporting existing networks and devices.

Question: How is the role of Wi-Fi changing within the overall wireless connectivity fabric?

JR: With 802.11ax, Wi-Fi will become an integral component of the operators’ small cell strategy. A

Wi-Fi 802.11ax network will truly look, feel, and touch no different than cellular. In the broader context,

the role of Wi-Fi is changing within the wireless fabric and Wi-Fi has become a key wireless access

technology for broadband carriers, MSOs, enterprises, venue owners and cities.

Question: How does Wi-Fi fit into the IoT ecosystem?

JR: Hundreds of millions of devices don’t have cellular chips in them, and they run off of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi

will continue to be a main technology in IoT in the future, and it will drive new use cases – and that

means new challenges too. At the WBA, we explored the IoT opportunity in a white paper [23] and we

plan to introduce new programs to support new IoT use cases and scenarios.

Question: What are the main challenges that Wi-Fi faces today?

https://www.wballiance.com/resource/enhanced-wi-fi-802-11ax-decoded/

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IoT-New-Vertical-Value-Chains-and-Interoperability-v1.00.pdf




JR: Authentication can still be a challenge for the customer. Integration and management of new

devices into the home or enterprise can be challenging, especially as their number grows. As

technology and capabilities evolve, and use cases expand, complexity grows as well and Wi-Fi has to

keep ahead to manage this. Our goal is to make sure the user doesn’t see this complexity, and to

make Wi-Fi connectivity even easier than it is today.

Question: How can smart cities benefit from Wi-Fi, beyond connectivity for locals and visitors?

JR: Wi-Fi access will remain important, but Wi-Fi networks will also manage critical functions and data

beyond connectivity. Cities will use Wi-Fi to manage traffic and parking, provide citizen services, or to

monitor pollution, to give a few examples. It’s a holistic view, in which higher quality of service, and

higher levels of security are becoming as important in Wi-Fi networks as they are in cellular networks.

Question: How is the WBA addressing the opportunities – and challenges – of IoT?

JR: We want to make Wi-Fi better, faster, more efficient, and, again, more focused on the customer

experience, not only for the phone or tablet users, but also for IoT applications. At the WBA, we have

been building a solid framework for IoT [24] and this work will continue in 2019. We are working on

streamlining authentication and interoperability, on improving security, and in offering a seamless

experience.

Question: What is the focus for the WBA for over the year ahead?

JR: We will continue to work on IoT – including dynamic IoT roaming and authentication of IoT

devices. In addition, we will continue to explore how to deploy network slicing in Wi-Fi, and how Wi-Fi

will preserve its role in a converged environment in which cellular networks evolve to 5G, and Wi-Fi

evolves to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). We are working on best practices and guidelines for in-home Wi-Fi –

for instance to allow users to map all APs within the house to the same Service Set Identifier (SSID)

[25].

Question: The World Wi-Fi Day is a good opportunity to reflect on the growth of Wi-Fi, and its further

potential for expansion. Why did the WBA start the World Wi-Fi Day, and how did it go?

JR: We started it to build awareness around the benefits of Wi-Fi, as a cost-effective access

technology that can reach millions and millions of people. Connectivity changes people’s lives, gives

them knowledge, allows them to just grow, develop and embark on opportunities that are not available

in an unconnected world. We are very pleased that about half the world’s population today has

access to the internet, but that only highlights the problem, that half the world’s population still doesn’t

have access to the internet. We started the World Wi-Fi Day because we believe that Wi-Fi is one of

the simplest, most cost-effective ways to get us there.

Question: With 5G, Wi-Fi and cellular will finally converge. Who will benefit from that?

JR: The convergence of Wi-Fi and cellular – or unlicensed and licensed – should give us better

coverage, lower latency, and higher throughput, and it will help us deploy cost-efficient networks and

expand the capability set. In turn, this will reinforce the foundation for Wi-Fi to give users seamless,

secure and robust connectivity.

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WBA-IoT-Dynamic-Roaming.pdf




3 The Evolution of Wi-Fi

The ability to balance backward compatibility with innovation and improved performance has been the

foundation of Wi-Fi’s success. It will continue to be so as wireless connectivity becomes more

pervasive in our personal, social and economic spheres, and as we expect more from it in terms of

performance, security, coverage and reliability.

3.1 Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax): The Next Generation in Performance

Wi-Fi performance with the current 802.11ac

interface is very solid. With the support of

multi-user Multiple input, multiple output (MU-

MIMO), it uses spectrum very efficiently and

provides a high level of frequency reuse in

dense environments, at a low per-bit cost. Yet,

to keep the pace with the growth in demand

and to continue to meet the growing

expectations of users and the requirements of

IoT applications, the Wi-Fi community is

working towards a new air interface, 802.11ax

– recently branded as Wi-Fi 6 – to be finalized

in late 2019.

Trials and initial commercial deployments are

already underway, with larger pre-standard

deployments expected in 2019. In South Korea, KT (see interview below) and SK Telekom have

started 802.11ax commercial deployments. In the US, Charter has started shipping 802.11ax routers

to residential subscribers; data rates on the routers reach 10 Gbps, according to the company. Many

vendors – including Broadcom, Intel, and Qualcomm– have announced pre-standard 802.11ax

chipsets and equipment in 2018. The introduction of the new air interface – which uses orthogonal

frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) interface and 1024 QAM modulation – increases the

spectrum efficiency, especially in dense environments and at the cell edge (see Appendix). 802.11ax

enables Wi-Fi to satisfy all the IMT-2020 5G use cases that do not require support for high-speed

mobility, and it will be able to so more quickly than 5G because of its earlier and faster deployment

(Section 10). Unlike 5G, 802.11ax can be introduced gradually without affecting legacy devices and

applications, which will continue to be used within the same 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, because of

Wi-Fi’s backward compatibility. Wi-Fi operators and users will be able to choose the pace of their

transition to 802.11ax, on the basis of their needs and preferences.

The WBA has identified key verticals that will benefit from 802.11ax capabilities:

• High-Density Deployments. High-density areas such as stadiums, airports, train stations, retail

centers, and educational institutions will be able to connect to more devices and deliver a better

user experience.

Wi-Fi 6 Benefits

Higher capacity and throughput

Improved spectrum efficiency

More efficient network densification

Lower latency

Better user experience

Increased indoor coverage

Low power, wider range for IoT services

Table 1. Wi-Fi 6 Benefits. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance, Senza Fili




• Transportation. Lower latency and

increased determinism enable 802.11ax

to support Automated Guided Vehicle

(AGV) applications in industrial

environments. Better outdoor coverage

allows Wi-Fi to transmit non-real-time

data – e.g. firmware over the air (FOTA)

updates – to vehicles.

• Enterprise. More efficient use of network

resources and improved management

capabilities for both voice and data

traffic.

• Retail Venues. Higher accuracy in

location-based services, marketing and

advertising.

• Entertainment Venues. Higher

throughput, lower latency, and improved

determinism enable support of virtual

reality (VR) / augmented reality (AR)

even in dense environments, such as

stadiums, and provide immersive

experiences with 8K and 360-degree

video.

• Smart Cities. The new air interface

provides improved hotspot coverage in

dense urban environments.

• Last Mile. Improved range and cell-edge performance improves Wi-Fi performance for last-mile

connectivity and backhaul.

• IoT. Support for lower power consumption, longer range and narrower channels further

encourages the use of Wi-Fi for IoT applications.

• Mobile Broadband. The support for a higher number of users, along with improved throughput

and latency, improves the user experience for both voice and data applications.

Technology Evolution with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

OFDMA DL/UL. Lower latency, higher number of supported devices per access point (AP). More capacity and more efficient use of spectrum and network resources in dense environments.

8x8 MU-MIMO DL/UL. Serving up to 8 simultaneous users, doubling capacity over 4x4 MIMO, both in the downlink and in the uplink. More uplink and real-time traffic capacity.

1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). Higher per-device peak speed, higher capacity (25% increase over 256 QAM). More efficient use of network resources.

Uplink Resource Scheduling. Better management of network resources, lower latency. Better support and performance in dense environments, increased battery life.

Long OFDM Symbol. Higher efficiency and capacity. Improved outdoor performance, 4x increase in data speed at the cell boundaries.

Basic Service Set (BSS) color. Better spatial frequency reuse by coordination among neighboring APs. Increased capacity in high-traffic environments with a high density of APs.

Table 2. Technology Evolution with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Source: Intel, Qualcomm, Wireless Broadband Alliance, Senza Fili




WBA supports drive for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

• The next generation of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 6 based on IEEE 802.11ax, is going to be even more attractive to carriers, because it will include new operator-grade capabilities.

• To explore the opportunities that these capabilities offer, the WBA has recently created the Next-Gen Wi-Fi workgroup tasked to develop test cases and trials of the new use cases that 802.11ax will enable, doing this in collaboration with vendor and operator members.

• The WBA presented an assessment of 802.11ax capabilities and support for use cases in the white paper “Enhanced Wi-Fi – 802.11ax Decoded: Overview, Features, Use Cases and 5G Context.” [22]. The paper discusses the benefits of 802.11ax over 802.11ac, the timeline for standardization and adoption, its ability to meet IMT-2020 requirements and the complementary relationship of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G.

Figure 3. WBA Industry Survey: New 802.11ax Features






Conversation: Planning the Transition to 802.11ax

Interview with Dongjun Lee, Director of Network Strategy, KT

KT has been one of the first and strongest

supporters of Wi-Fi among mobile operators,

and it expects to be at the leading edge once

more with 802.11ax. KT previewed the

technology at the Pyeongchang Olympics

Games in early December 2017, and has an

ongoing trial in Seoul. We talked with Dongjun

(DJ) Lee, Director of Network Strategy at KT,

about the operator’s 802.11ax plans.

Question: At KT you already have a large

hotspot footprint and capacity. What drove you

to work on 802.11ax?

DJ: We started to work on it a year ago and

now we have an 802.11ax trial for what we call

the 10 GiGA Wi-Fi. It is the most valuable

addition planned in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Even though we have high capacity in the

access network, subscribers often do not enjoy

the high speed that Wi-Fi can support,

because of the limitations of the wireline

backhaul (typically below 1 Gbps wireline) both

indoors and outdoors. At KT we are in the

process of upgrading our backhaul network to

offer our 10 GiGA internet service.

We expect to be done by the end of the year,

and this will enable us to take full advantage of

802.11ax’s high throughput. The backhaul is

not going to be a bottleneck for us, but rather

the enabler for a superior subscriber

experience when coupled with 802.11ax.

Question: How is your trial going?

DJ: We did a limited commercial trial at

Starbucks coffee shops in mid-2018, and we

were impressed with the performance.

We have 802.11ax in the second largest

Starbucks in Asia, so there is a lot of traffic

there. Before the trial started, customers were

complaining about the speed of their

connections and Starbucks asked KT to find a

better solution for their hotspots. The feedback

from users is very positive.

Question: How is 802.11ax different from the

current Wi-Fi 802.11ac interface?

DJ: The service is branded as 10 GiGA Wi-Fi

and offers a maximum speed of 4.8 Gbps – a

major improvement over 1.7Gbps on today’s

802.11ac networks. 10 GiGA Wi-Fi uses

orthogonal frequency division multiplexing

access (OFDMA) and multi-user multiple input,

multiple output (MU-MIMO).

Question: What are your future plans for

802.11ax?

DJ: At KT we plan to deploy 802.11ax across

our hotspot footprint starting in 2019 and

expand it gradually to all our hotspots.

Currently, 802.11ax APs serve internal clients

(staff or IoT devices), but with adoption of

mobile devices supporting 802.11ax the traffic

will gradually shift to the 802.11ax interface.

Legacy devices not only will continue to access

the Wi-Fi network, but they will benefit from

802.11ax performance improvement even

though they do not support 802.11ax, because

the new interface makes the overall network

more efficient and less prone to interference.

Question: Where are you going to deploy

802.11ax after Starbucks?

DJ: We want to extend and expand the trial to

more Starbucks locations and other venues.




Later this year, the 10G GiGA Home AP,

powered by 802.11ax, will also be introduced

in the residential market.

Question: How long do you think it will take for

802.11ax to become the dominant air

interface?

DJ: We expect that mobile handsets will start

to support 802.11ax in 2019. In South Korea,

subscribers change their phone every 30 to 40

months, so probably around half the

subscribers will have an 802.11ax phone by

the end of 2021.

Question: Do you think that KT subscribers

will stop using Wi-Fi when 5G is available?

DJ: Subscribers will continue to use Wi-Fi, and

we expect Wi-Fi to coexist closely with 5G, as

it has done with LTE.

At the same time, in Korea many people have

an unlimited plan, so they do not use Wi-Fi to

save money. They use it when the

performance is better.

But Wi-Fi networks also provide connectivity to

those who cannot afford to pay for an unlimited

plan and who use Wi-Fi all the time.

Question: What is the major driver of adoption

of 802.11ax?

DJ: It is probably the throughput. There is a lot

of competition in South Korea, and 802.11ax is

going to be a differentiating factor for us.

Question: Will 802.11ax give you an

opportunity to monetize Wi-Fi?

DJ: Unlimited Wi-Fi access is included in our

3G/LTE plans, so subscribers do not pay an

additional fee to use Wi-Fi. We do not expect

additional subscriber fees to be a main

monetization opportunity. But 802.11ax, when

coupled with other areas of innovation in Wi-Fi

solutions such as enhanced Wi-Fi positioning,

gives us more opportunities to use our network

assets for new services, like location-based

services, advertising, or other services aimed

at the retail vertical.

Figure 4. Starbucks Reserve at Jongro Tower, the largest Starbucks location in South Korea, and a KT 11ax hotspot. Source: Starbucks




3.2 WiGig and HaLow: Expansion in Millimeter Wave and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

Along with the new 802.11ax air interface, the capabilities of Wi-Fi are expanding to new bands,

increasing both the overall capacity of Wi-Fi and its ability to serve new use cases.

WiGig (802.11ad, 802.11ay) brings multi-gigabit connectivity in the 60 GHz band to provide even

higher capacity density to in-home and other indoor environments where applications or devices

require very high throughput over short distances (e.g. AR/VR, 360-degree video, a home video

projector). WiGig will also be used in the highest-traffic environments and for wireless backhaul and

fixed wireless access (e.g. Facebook’s Terragraph). In the second generation of WiGig, 802.11ay

allows for peak data rates in excess of 100 Gbps – sufficient to meet the requirements of the most

traffic-intensive applications.

HaLow (802.11ah) takes Wi-Fi in the opposite direction, to a low frequency that is ideally suited for

long-range, low-power, low-bandwidth connections to IoT devices. HaLow requires little spectrum, but

it can support for months or years IoT devices that are battery operated. This is often a requirement

for applications such as remote environmental sensors and utility meters, which have to operate

reliably for a long period of time, often from locations without power, and which have to be cheap to

justify the business case.

Together, WiGig and Wi-Fi HaLow expand the reach of Wi-Fi to new spectrum bands (60 GHz and

900 MHz) while retaining backward compatibility to Wi-Fi networks in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. As

is typically the case in Wi-Fi, WiGig and HaLow devices can seamlessly associate to any Wi-Fi

network, even in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, if the device supports the band.

3.3 Evolution of Roaming and Mobile Device Management for Advanced Carrier Wi-Fi

Services

While most of the attention on Wi-Fi evolution is focused on 802.11ax, there are other initiatives at the

IEEE (802.11k, v, r, u, ai, aq) and Wi-Fi Alliance (Agile Multiband, Optimized Connectivity, Vantage)

to improve roaming and the management of mobile devices. These, too, will benefit carrier-based

access and the user experience, and they will build upon the NGH provisioning platform (see the

WBA white paper on NGH provisioning standardization [27])

These new capabilities support:

• Better management of spectrum resources based on real-time network conditions

• Fast roaming, allowing devices to retain their connection as they move from one AP to another

one nearby and improving support for real-time applications such as voice over Wi-Fi in mobile

scenarios

• Better security and quality of service (QoS) when roaming

• Intelligent neighbor awareness to discover the best available AP, using Basic Service Set (BSS)

transitions

• Network-assisted roaming for improved network discovery and selection




• Pre-association information exchange between the device and the AP to discover services

available ahead of establishing the connection

With these new capabilities, mobile operators and service providers will have more advanced tools to

manage roaming access. They will also have more visibility in the QoS their subscribers get in the

visited network. Users not only will be able to connect seamlessly, but they will connect to the best

available network for their needs.

3.4 WPA3: The Next Generation in Security

Introduced in 2018, WPA3 ushers in a new

generation of Wi-Fi security. WPA (2013) and

WPA2 (2014) have established a solid

foundation for Wi-Fi security, and WPA2 will

remain in use for several years, as devices

and infrastructure gradually transition to

WPA3. WPA3 introduces new functionality,

and it strengthens Wi-Fi security in response to

the growth in security threats, attacks and the

increased security requirements due to new

use cases, a wider range of devices and, even

more crucially, the rapid growth of IoT, which,

as discussed in previous sections, creates new

security challenges for both the devices and

the networks supporting them.

As in WPA2, there are two versions of WPA3:

• WPA3-Personal for residential and small

business networks. It introduces the

Simultaneous Authentication of Equals

(SAE) to improve protection when users

use weak password and to strengthen the initial key exchange. WPA3 makes it easier for users

to select passwords that are easy to remember and improves ease of use for security features.

• WPA3-Enterprise to protect enterprise, government and defense networks. It introduces 192-bit

encryption to protect networks with the tightest security requirements.

In addition, the Easy Connect certification program by the Wi-Fi Alliance simplifies the security

configurations for IoT devices with limited display capabilities and it includes the DPP protocol for

mutual authentication.

4 The Expanding Wi-Fi Ecosystems

The growth in the number of Wi-Fi shipments and Wi-Fi devices reflects a widening range of device

types and use cases across the Wi-Fi ecosystems. Initially, Wi-Fi was predominantly used for data

access from laptops. The introduction of the iPhone and other smartphones extended data access to

WPA3 Benefits

More effective security mechanisms for users

Out-of-the-box security, making it easier and more transparent for users to secure home networks

Easier for users to select secure passwords

New capabilities for mobile operators and service providers to enforce best-practice security and ensure appropriate protection for their users

Higher protection against eavesdropping and forging

Better protection when using weak passwords

192-bit encryption for enterprise networks

More advanced tools for enterprises, network operators and service providers to protect their networks form attacks

Table 3. WPA3 Benefits. Source: Senza Fili




mobile devices and introduced Wi-Fi Calling, with voice over Wi-Fi integrated within the mobile

operator cellular network.

More recently, the wide adoption of Wi-Fi for data access has created a large installed infrastructure

that is increasingly used for IoT and IIoT applications, which has encouraged the use of Wi-Fi as a

fixed access technology for broadband access and wireless backhaul. This has widened the Wi-Fi

addressable market and its economic and social impact, but it has also created more stringent

requirements and new challenges.

As wireless connectivity becomes even more pervasive and supports a growing range of use cases

for user and IoT devices, Wi-Fi’s role will continue to expand. Wi-Fi will capture higher traffic loads

and address new applications and services, leveraging the new capabilities of 802.11ax, WiGig and

HaLow across all the Wi-Fi ecosystems.

4.1 Home Networks

Wi-Fi is the primary access technology in most broadband households. According to Parks

Associates, 76% of US broadband households use Wi-Fi as their primary broadband connection and

have on average 9.1 connected devices, which in most cases use Wi-Fi. Adoption of in-home IoT

devices is accelerating too. In the US, 26% of broadband homes have at least one smart-home

device, and an estimated 442 million will be sold in 2020 [13].

Wi-Fi is used for all communication needs and for entertainment, with video accounting for an

increasingly large portion of traffic. In recent years, the adoption of smart-home devices and other

connected devices has started to transform residential networks into hubs that support multiple

applications and services in the house. The traditional Wi-Fi residential network, with one AP

supporting most traffic from laptops and mobile phones in the home, is becoming a multi-AP mesh

Figure 5. WBA Industry Survey: Meeting Customer Expectations in In-Home Wi-Fi Services




network that covers every room in the house, as well as the garage and the backyard and supports

many smart-home devices. The WBA has established a program that focuses on architecture options,

security and best practices for home Wi-Fi networks and that will release guidelines for home Wi-Fi

networks in 2019.

The Wi-Fi network is even more important to residents than to devices. Not only does it keep

everybody connected, it brings video and other content (including entertainment), home monitoring

and management applications, security, healthcare and other personal services that have a

transformative impact on our experiences and that can improve our quality of life.

At the same time, however, home Wi-Fi networks become more complex. Yet, because we rely more

on them, we need them to be even more reliable and secure than in the past. This creates an

opportunity for service providers to help residential users to manage their network and the

applications it supports. It is a monetization opportunity for broadband providers, mobile operators,

other service providers or even venue owners, which can provide routers or other equipment (e.g.

mesh APs or smart-home devices) and manage Wi-Fi connectivity and applications inside the home.

Wi-Fi residential services are much more, even, than these revenue opportunities. They enable the

service provider to ensure the highest quality of experience by optimizing network utilization, have

visibility into the user experience, and proactively encourage the use of a wider set of smart-home

and delivery applications and services. In turn, this creates a deeper, more trusted relationship with

subscribers that can increase subscribers’ satisfaction and reduce churn. In addition, visibility into the

subscriber QoE enables network operators to make better use of the available network resources

(e.g. by shifting subscribers to/from cellular depending on network conditions and subscriber

requirements).

Figure 6. WBA Industry Survey: In-Home Wi-Fi Services

WBA Industry Survey: In-Home Wi-Fi Services




In the US, for instance, Verizon offers Wi-Fi routers and extenders for residential users to improve

overall connectivity and support for smart services within the home. This offering is based on Wi-Fi

connectivity, but it is part of a wider value proposition to the subscriber that includes all access

channels.

Also in the US, Charter sees the Wi-Fi router offering as central to its Inside Out Strategy, for what it

calls the “connected home experience”. Today it is a Wi-Fi device, but in the future, it will combine Wi-

Fi with LTE and 5G. Use cases include:

• Mobility: smartphone and laptop connectivity

• Wellness monitoring: blood pressure and pulse monitors, smart scales, motion detection

• Rich entertainment: smart speakers, smart TVs

• Energy management: air quality monitors, smart thermostats, smart plugs

• Home automation: smart lights, contact sensors, gateways

• Security and access control: motion sensors, key fobs, smart cameras, locks

The success of this model will depend on the ability of the service provider to develop strong ties with

the ecosystem to make the introduction of smart-home devices and applications seamless and their

management effortless.

4.2 Enterprise and Venue Owners

Wi-Fi is ubiquitous in the enterprise and has largely replaced Ethernet as the main access technology,

making Wi-Fi networks critical to employee productivity and to the support of many internal functions,

such as security, asset tracking and automation. In venues such as hotels, stadiums, conference

venues and airports, Wi-Fi is an absolute requirement for guests and visitors, as well as for the staff.

In some enterprise environments, Wi-Fi is also used for dedicated point-to-point or point-to-multipoint

links, often used for backhaul.

With their higher capacity, lower latency, and enhanced densification capabilities, 802.11ax networks

will increase the value of Wi-Fi by supporting enterprise real-time applications that require video and

voice, ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), or more control over traffic management.

Many IoT and IIoT applications (e.g. automation, remote monitoring, healthcare) and edge-based

private network services (e.g. VR/AR, tactile internet, immersive experience services) fall into these

categories.

More specifically, Wi-Fi supports a growing number of location-based services that use local content

and are directed to occupants, employees or visitors of a venue, e.g. a stadium, a retail mall or

another public venue. Here too, VR/AR, tactile internet, immersive experience services will support

applications for entertainment, marketing, advertising, social networking and city services. Not only do

these applications create a richer experience to guests, visitors and audiences, they can also provide

new revenues from third parties that want to gain access to them – such as venue tenants,

advertisers, and content and application providers.




Transportation is an area of great potential for Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has been available on trains, buses and

planes for a long time, where it often provides better connectivity than cellular. While in most cases

users expect Wi-Fi to be free on ground transportation, they expect to pay for internet access on

planes.

The WBA has developed a Wi-Fi Deployment Guidelines and a Compliant Checklist that define

best practices for mobile network operators, wireless network operators and infrastructure vendors to

benchmark Wi-Fi deployments, through the lifecycle deployment phases – planning, site surveys, RF

analysis, implementation, configuration and operation. The WBA is currently working on a series of

more in-depth guidelines with a focus on in-flight connectivity, enterprise Wi-Fi, venue and stadium

Wi-Fi, city Wi-Fi and hospitality Wi-Fi to address the specific issues and barriers that today often lead

to an experience that does not meet the user expectations.

4.3 Carriers and Service Providers

Mobile, cable operators as well as other service providers use Wi-Fi to provide data and voice access

to their subscribers and guests. In areas with high traffic density, Wi-Fi is frequently used as an

offload technology to lighten congestion in the macro cellular network. Many operators have built and

operate their hotspot infrastructure, others connect through hotspots managed by neutral hosts or

enterprises/venue owners.

Wi-Fi offload – especially when using residential and enterprise networks not owned by the service

provider – will continue to provide huge cost savings to mobile operators. Offloaded traffic removes

pressure from their cellular networks and delays the need for capacity upgrades. Without Wi-Fi,

Figure 7. WBA Industry Survey: Development Challenges

https://www.wballiance.com/wi-fi-deployment-guidelines/




mobile operators would have to embark on a very expensive network update to provide sufficient

traffic capacity and to preserve the wireless experience of their subscribers.

5G will not eliminate the need for Wi-Fi offload and its benefits. 5G will have higher capacity, but

traffic continues to increase and 5G deployments will initially have limited coverage. Because the per-

bit cost of Wi-Fi will remain lower than that of 5G and Wi-Fi does not require the purchase of new

devices, Wi-Fi will still be the most cost-effective solution for all stakeholders – users, enterprises,

cities, network operators and service providers. The performance of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will be

comparable, but Wi-Fi enjoys a level of maturity, reliability and ubiquity that 5G will not have for a long

time and may never reach.

In some environments, the high utilization of Wi-Fi may instead create the need for a 5G offload,

unless regulators allocate new unlicensed spectrum. Because users prefer to use Wi-Fi and operators

may preferentially steer their subscribers to use Wi-Fi where available, Wi-Fi networks may attract

more traffic than 5G.

More importantly, the need to balance traffic among wireless access interfaces to optimize both the

user experience and the network resource utilization will encourage operators to move beyond offload

and to integrate Wi-Fi and 5G. In an integrated network, operators can use policy to allocate traffic

flows to the best suited access interface taking into account real-time network condition and user

demand. The WBA white paper, “Unlicensed Integration with 5G Networks” [28], discusses options

and alternative approaches available for combining access over Wi-Fi and cellular networks in the run

up to 5G.

Fixed-wireless broadband is another service that Wi-Fi supports. Wireless ISPs can use Wi-Fi to

provide home and small-business connectivity in areas where wireline broadband is unavailable or

too expensive. Wi-Fi can also operate in markets where wireless ISPs face competition from

established wireline operators; with Wi-Fi the ISPs can offer innovative service plans that have

attractive features, lower costs and better service. In the US, Starry has launched a wireless

broadband service that combines mmW proprietary pre-5G technology to offer a very disruptive

service to residential users and property owners, who increasingly see connectivity as a critical

service to their tenants. Starry’s proposition to venue owners is to “turn the internet from a utility to an

amenity”: it becomes a lifestyle differentiator, a service designed to effortlessly connect people and

things that is not marketed as an add-on to a TV service or as a modem-with-router in a box.

4.4 IoT and IIoT

Wi-Fi has been used for IoT for a long time, but in the last few years it has started to expand to new

use cases and devices. The Wi-Fi ecosystem is poised for the most aggressive growth, as more and

more things in our environment are connected or are monitored by connected sensors and other

devices.

Cisco VNI expects that by 2021, IoT devices will account for 51% of connected devices and 5% of

global IP traffic. The number of IoT connections will grow from 6 billion in 2016 to 14 billion in 2021,

with a 19% CAGR. Many of these connections will use Wi-Fi, because it is widely available, cost

effective, and controlled by the end user. As such it is well suited to supporting applications that




require wireless connectivity but have a strong local component (e.g. building monitoring and

management).

Wi-Fi today can already support many IoT and IIoT applications, such as building monitoring and

management, asset tracking, and smart-home applications for security, home automation, healthcare

and entertainment. Wi-Fi 6 will usher in a new generation of healthcare applications, more pervasive

automation, in-vehicle automation and assisted-car applications. HaLow in the 900 MHz band will

expand the use cases that Wi-Fi can support, to include applications that require long range and

devices with low-power consumption, yet consume little bandwidth.

4.5 Connected Cities

Cities and other public entities use Wi-Fi to provide hotspot and broadband access to local residents

and visitors, provide broadband access in digital divide environments, and support services for their

employees and citywide applications [21]. Connected cities have started to use Wi-Fi to establish

networks of sensors, cameras and other fixed and mobile devices that can be used, for instance, to

monitor the environment (e.g. pollution, weather) or energy consumption, or to manage traffic,

parking, buildings and venues. With Wi-Fi 6, cities will be able to address more use cases and offer a

wider range of services to citizens and visitors, especially those that include VR/AR, low latency and

automation – for instance, for educational, healthcare, or location-based applications.

4.6 Connecting the Unconnected

Across the world, 46% (ITU) of the population doesn’t have a broadband connection. Most of the

unconnected are in rural areas or emerging countries where wireline connectivity is unavailable or too

expensive, but there are pockets of disadvantaged urban and suburban areas in developed countries

with low broadband penetration and limited connectivity options. In these environments, Wi-Fi can

provide broadband access through simple, easy-to-install and cost-effective solutions that can reach

out to those who cannot afford the subscription plans offered by wireline broadband providers.

In underserved areas, Wi-Fi 6’s higher capacity, lower per-bit cost, longer range and improved edge

coverage will make Wi-Fi even more valuable and effective. These features strengthen the business

case for WISPs and make it easier and more cost-effective for cities and communities to deploy Wi-Fi

to reach the unconnected – and in turn make broadband available and affordable to a broader range

of users.

5 Wi-Fi Roaming: A Better User Experience and Revenue Opportunity with

NGH and Passpoint

The long-lasting and still growing success of Wi-Fi is tied to its ability to serve multiple ecosystems

and widen its role within each by supporting new use cases. This strength, however, creates a

challenge for mobile users and devices: unlike cellular, Wi-Fi is deployed in a distributed fashion, with

a massive number of stand-alone, mostly small networks, with different architectures, features and

performance. Along with the vibrant and dynamic environment come potential fragmentation and

security risks.

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/default.aspx




This is why the Wi-Fi roaming that NGH-Passpoint enable is crucial to the Wi-Fi experience of mobile

users: it gives them access to a rich and diverse environment of Wi-Fi networks by connecting

seamlessly and securely to only vetted networks that users can trust and that meet their performance

expectations. The mobile device detects a Passpoint network and connects to it automatically, using

EAP-based SIM and non-SIM user credentials. The user does not need to take any action or even to

know the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. For users, this is especially valuable when traveling

abroad or when in public locations within their service provider’s hotspot. They can connect without

having to worry about network discovery and selection or authentication.

Wi-Fi roaming is much more than a revenue-generating tool: it has an important role across many Wi-

Fi ecosystems, as we will see in the rest of the report. But for carriers and service providers,

seamless roaming is a top priority, because they want to replicate with Wi-Fi the same seamless

experience subscribers have within their network, where they mostly do not need to roam because

operators typically have a national footprint.

Passpoint allows carriers and service providers to achieve a consistent quality of experience across

cellular and Wi-Fi, including the quality of the connection over Wi-Fi networks that they do not

operate. Operators can choose which Wi-Fi networks meet their requirements and should be open to

their subscribers, and they can use policy to decide when their subscribers should use cellular or

when Wi-Fi. For instance, operators may choose a cellular-first strategy (i.e. use Wi-Fi only when

cellular connectivity is poor or networks are congested) or a Wi-Fi-first strategy (i.e. prefer Wi-Fi

networks when available and when performance is good). Increasingly, operators are exploring ways

to implement more sophisticated policy mechanisms based, for instance, on application, traffic type,

device, subscriber plan, or network conditions. Wi-Fi roaming provides the framework and the control

over traffic management that operators need to introduce policy and other functionality for Wi-Fi

access. In addition to leveraging Wi-Fi to improve the subscriber experience, Wi-Fi roaming makes

the use of network resources more efficient, which can lead to cost savings.

Figure 8. WBA Industry Survey: Drivers to Wi-Fi Deployments




For Wi-Fi operators too, revenues from visitors are no longer the primary motivation to offer Wi-Fi

roaming. While there are some environments where paid Wi-Fi access is very successful – e.g. for in-

flight connectivity – in many venues Wi-Fi access has become free to visitors because Wi-Fi

operators or the venues where they operate have found more effective ways to extract revenues from

their networks. Because Wi-Fi connectivity is so important to visitors and guests, venues such as

stadiums, airports, hotels, and retail establishments know that Wi-Fi connectivity is a service they

have to offer to retain their customers or visitors. Without Wi-Fi, hotels would lose many of their

guests. Airports without free Wi-Fi access have become a rarity.

Even if access is free, Wi-Fi roaming improves the user experience at these locations, increases the

attach rate and the traffic per user (see the interview below) and, in turn, improves the overall

experience at the venue. Wi-Fi roaming keeps visitors and guests coming back. In addition, roaming

facilitates the rollout of location-based and other IoT services, and marketing and advertising

applications, because the Wi-Fi operator and the venue owner and tenants may have access to

demographic and other information on visitors and guests –in an anonymized form, of course, to

protect the privacy of the users. The WBA white paper “Wi-Fi: Value-Add and Advertising. The

Evolution of Wi-Fi Advertising and Location Service” [30] gives an in-depth assessment of this

opportunity and presents use cases of how venues can benefit from Wi-Fi networks.

Figure 9: WBA Industry Survey: NGH Passpoint Adoption

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wi-Fi-Value-Add-and-Advertising.pdf





Figure 10. WBA Industry Survey: Roaming in City Wi-Fi Networks

Figure 11. WBA Industry Survey: Traffic Growth in Urban Areas




Conversation: Passpoint’s Prime Time

Interview with Melody Eclavea, Director of Interconnection Agreements at AT&T

Passpoint was introduced back in 2012, but

last year was a turning point, when AT&T and

other operators switched from WISPr to

Passpoint. I talked with Melody Eclavea,

Director of Interconnection Agreements at

AT&T, about the AT&T’s move to Passpoint.

Question: Melody, could you tell us what

happened with Passpoint over the last year at

AT&T?

Melody: Passpoint became relevant for AT&T

in a way that it had not been previously. And,

because AT&T manages over 35,000 Wi-Fi

hotspots in the US, this had a wide impact on

the industry.

In 2017, we started upgrading our Wi-Fi

hotspots to support Passpoint and including a

Passpoint profile in our AT&T iPhone operating

system (iOS) and Android devices. We can

leverage that profile that’s now resident in most

of our devices to connect to our Passpoint

network and to roaming third-party networks as

well.

We had a robust WISPr roaming footprint with

a connection manager app, Global Wi-Fi, that

facilitated onboarding or authenticating our

customers to WISPr networks. But WISPr was

not as seamless as we wanted it to be. It

required some manual intervention. The

customer had to use the app or the phone

settings to select the network.

We retired the Global Wi-Fi app in April 2017

and shifted all our focus to Passpoint. At the

same time, the number of available Passpoint

networks has grown, both domestically and

internationally. We have seen new Passpoint

networks in Mexico, South Africa, Thailand,

India, and Europe. Slowly but surely, we have

started to develop a robust footprint of

Passpoint roaming carriers.

Question: What do users see that is new

when they first use Passpoint?

Melody: It’s what they don’t see that is new,

because Passpoint is seamless. The profile

resides in their device. You can’t touch it, see

it, feel it, because it’s part of the carrier

settings, as opposed to an app you have to

download and install.

The connection is seamless and is set up in

the background. The customer does not see

anything, but the connection of the device to

the network is secure. With SIM-based

authentication, Wi-Fi and cellular roaming look

similar.

Question: Are your international roaming

carriers moving to Passpoint too?

Melody: The number of international Wi-Fi

providers supporting Passpoint has grown over

the last year. AT&T’s decision to go with

Passpoint only going forward sent a signal that

we and other carriers are serious about

Passpoint being the future of Wi-Fi roaming.

Question: What triggered your decision to

move to Passpoint?

Melody: It was the fact that the profile is

included in the carrier setting of most of our

devices, and we didn’t have to go through the

onboarding process. Anytime you have to

onboard something to a customer’s device it’s

going to decrease adoption. We generally are

seeing a threefold to fourfold increase in the




number of users and usage with Passpoint in

venues compared to when we used WISPr.

Question: How are the billing and settlement

working in Passpoint?

Melody: Exchanging billing and settlement

records with our roaming carriers is very

important to us. One thing that makes it easier

for us and our roaming carriers is to support

the work standards defined by the WBA for

billing and settlement. The WBA is doing great

work to standardize the Remote Authentication

Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) format and how

RADIUS fields should be populated.

Adherence to WBA’s WRIX – the Wireless

Roaming Intermediary eXchange – guidelines

goes a long way to speeding up roaming

implementation.

Question: What are you working on to expand

Wi-Fi roaming?

Melody: We would like to explore policy to

decide when to steer customers to Wi-Fi. Let’s

say you’re at an airport, attached to the cellular

network as you are walking into the airport. If

you have a good cellular connection and that

radio that you’re connected to has plenty of

capacity, you are having a good experience

and we don’t need to switch you to Passpoint.

But if it is peak time or the cellular radio is at

80% utilization or above, then your experience

would be better with Passpoint. We would like

to able to take a look at the conditions on the

macro network before we decide whether to

connect the customer to Passpoint or not.

Figure 12. WISPr and Passpoint Connections. Source: AT&T




5.1 Passpoint and NGH at Mobile World Congress 2018: Case Study of Wi-Fi in a Hyper-

Dense Environment

Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a challenging environment for connectivity for all

technologies, because of the high density of users and exhibitors with demanding needs. In 2018,

MWC brought 110,000 visitors to Barcelona, a city of 1.6 million people. Most of those visitors

connected to the Wi-Fi network at the Fira convention center or at other locations throughout the city

[11]. Cisco built the Wi-Fi network eight years ago and it upgrades and expands it every year before

the event.

At the Mobile World Congress Americas (MWCA) 2017 in San Francisco, the Wi-Fi network provided

access to over 21,000 attendees and exhibitors [3]. Nearly 22,000 devices connected to the Wi-Fi

network and 65% of them connected to the network using Passpoint. Cisco added 360 APs to the

existing Wi-Fi network. The network carried 7.5 TB of traffic, with 500 mbps peaks, an average traffic

per client of 227 MB, and average session time per user of 48 minutes.

Wi-Fi at Barcelona’s MWC 2018

110,000 attendees

86,000 unique clients

20% of connections through NGH-Passpoint

2260 APs

Coverage: Fira Convention Center, El-Prat Airport, subway stations

Fira coverage: 2400 m2, 8 halls, 45 restaurants, 2 WLAN controllers, 1834 APs

Infrastructure: Cisco

Access providers (GRX): Accuris, Boingo Wireless, BSG, iPass

US operators with preloaded Passpoint profiles: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile

Passpoint connectivity with Shaw, TELUS, Orange, Mobily, Softbank, Telecom26

Total traffic: 37.8 TB

Average speed: 20–25 Mbps

Peak speed: 8.9 Gbps

Peak users: 29,000

Table 4. Wi-Fi at Barcelona's MWC 2018. Source: Cisco

Figure 13. Screenshot of a Mobile Phone Connected with Passpoint at MWC. Source: Wireless Broadband

Alliance




5.2 Expanding Passpoint to Enterprise Roaming Relationships

At MWC, Passpoint was also used to authenticate enterprise users. Passpoint was primarily

developed to let mobile operators provide seamless connectivity to their subscribers. However,

Passpoint can also be used to authenticate users with enterprise credentials. When a device tries to

connect to a network that supports Passpoint, the enterprise credential for that device can be used to

authenticate the device. At MWC, Cisco and iPass extended Passpoint to include enterprise security

credentials, with iPass acting as a federated source of credentials from client companies. The city of

Barcelona, the airport and public transportation agencies were also actively involved to extend Wi-Fi

coverage for MWC attendees beyond the conference site at the Fira.

An employee at a company with iPass subscriptions could use those credentials to connect to the

network seamlessly and securely in Barcelona. The device sensed the network and used 802.11u to

exchange roam information. iPass would then identify the enterprise and, if it belonged to the iPass

roaming network, iPass checked the validity credentials directly with the enterprise, e.g. to make sure

the user is still employed. Using enterprise credentials greatly expands the scope of roaming, as it

creates business relationships that become roaming relationships. A federated network of roaming

relationships allows users to access a wider set of networks seamlessly and gives operators the

ability to decide who to admit to their networks by selecting a set of roaming relationships they accept.

5.3 Intermediary Hubs Create a Roaming Marketplace

A challenge in Wi-Fi roaming is to connect the providers (enterprises, venue owners, cities or service

providers) to service providers (mobile and fixed operators, cable operators, aggregators or

enterprises) and establish roaming agreements that enable users to connect to the local Wi-Fi

network using credentials and the billing relationship with their home service provider. This is a

challenge for mobile operators too, but there are fewer cellular networks, and roaming agreements

and intermediaries have been around for a long time, creating a

Establishing direct roaming agreements between Wi-Fi providers and service providers works only in

special cases, typically where they both have a strong presence (e.g. AT&T and Boingo Wireless).

But it is not feasible for a coffee shop or even a small retail center to establish technical

interconnections and roaming agreements with all the mobile operators in a country. It is even more

Figure 14. The Wi-Fi Roaming Hub Connects the Visited and the Home Wi-Fi Networks. Source: Syniverse




difficult to do so with operators in other

countries. Similarly, operators cannot reach

out to all the small Wi-Fi operators to roam

with them.

Roaming hubs or clearinghouses are

intermediaries for Wi-Fi operators to connect

with the home service providers. Accuris,

BSG, Global Reach and Syniverse have

created Wi-Fi hubs that offer technical

simplification, reduction of operational cost,

centralization of services and scalability.

Wi-Fi hubs can create online wholesale

negotiation platforms that include billing and

marketing functions, and contractual

agreements between Wi-Fi operators and

service providers, which all members of the

platform can use.

By participating in a hub, Wi-Fi operators

widen their reach and gain additional

revenues if they charge for access, improve

the guest experience, and participate in

marketing activities enabled by the hub.

Service providers can offer a larger hotspot

footprint to their subscribers and benefit from

cellular offload. Because all participants can

decide what requirements their roaming

partners must meet, they all retain control

over who can access the network and hence

of the user experience.

Today roaming hubs mostly focus on a single

access technology, but with the convergence

in the access network and the emergence of

new business models, they may expand to include multiple access technologies and to include

enterprises and other entities as home service providers, further widening the market opportunity for

Wi-Fi operators and the connectivity options for users.

Roaming intermediaries can also facilitate new service offerings through new partnerships, often

based on services from Wi-Fi operators and aggregators such as Boingo Wireless or iPass. In the US

for instance, American Express offers worldwide hotspot access to its high-end subscribers in

collaboration with Boingo Wireless. OTTs may also provide connectivity through the Wi-Fi aggregator

to deliver specific services to their subscribers – for instance to provide good-quality video streaming,

social networking applications, gaming or other applications in environments where Wi-Fi access is

otherwise gated. Roaming arrangements through Wi-Fi aggregators can also be used for IoT

The Road Ahead

The scope of NGH-Passpoint has already expanded beyond the initial goal of making Wi-Fi roaming seamless for users and profitable for carriers and Wi-Fi operators. It is now a framework that enables a more efficient use of network resources, a better experience for users and the deployment of new services.

There is further room for expansion of the scope of NGH-Passpoint, and the WBA is committed to further work in this direction, both internally with its members and externally with other organizations, such as the Wi-Fi Alliance, 3GPP and IEEE.

The WBA is actively working on the extension of Passpoint in IoT applications and has already published a paper, “IoT Interoperability: Dynamic Roaming” [24] that outlines the role of Wi-Fi roaming for IoT applications. Further work is being done to facilitate the adoption of Passpoint in IoT applications, including IIoT ones.

With the increased convergence, there is an emerging demand for a roaming framework that works across access technologies. The WBA is working to ensure NGH and Passpoint can interconnect with roaming for other wireless technologies.

Further work is underway to create a centralized authentication source to expand the use of certificate-based credentials and, thus, enable enterprise users to benefit from Passpoint when they roam onto Wi-Fi networks.






applications, in which an IoT provider or an enterprise partners with an aggregator to use the hotspot

footprint to track location or movement of assets or vehicles, transmit data, or perform other tasks.

6 The Next Frontier: IoT

6.1 The IoT Addressable Market for Wi-Fi

IoT is the biggest opportunity for growth in the adoption of new devices for Wi-Fi, as well as other

wireless technologies. There is a simple explanation for this: there are many more things than people

that can get connected, but many more people are already connected than things. IoT is taking off

because connectivity is increasingly valuable for everybody – individual users, enterprises, public

entities – and because available and emerging technologies provide the required performance at an

affordable cost.

The increase in the number of IoT devices expected over the next few years is stunning. Cisco VNI

predicts that by 2021, machine to machine (M2M) IoT connections will account for over half of

wireless connections [4]. Already IoT devices outnumber smartphones, and by 2020 the number of

IoT devices will be twice that of smartphones. We should expect the growth to continue – and most

likely accelerate – after 2021, as the cost of IoT devices decreases and the number of cost-effective

use cases increases.

Wi-Fi is well-positioned to benefit from the explosive growth in IoT. It already accounts for a large

percentage of current IoT connections. In North America, Wi-Fi accounts for 60% of IoT connections

and cellular for 10% in 2018 (Ericsson) [10]. By 2020, Wi-Fi will still account for 58% of connections,

and cellular for 13% (Ericsson) [10].

Figure 15. WBA Industry Survey: Monetization




The strong presence of Wi-Fi in households creates an ideal environment for IoT devices and

services that need Wi-Fi connectivity: the network infrastructure and the connectivity to other home

devices are already in place, and new IoT devices can easily be added to residential networks at a

low marginal cost. Similarly, the availability and accessibility of Wi-Fi in the enterprise and other

venues often make Wi-Fi the preferred technology to connect local IoT devices. As the adoption of

IoT progresses, the large installed base will reinforce Wi-Fi’s role as the technology that supports IoT.

Wi-Fi’s commitment to backward compatibility will further strengthen the Wi-Fi advantage, even when

802.11ax is introduced, because 802.11ax can work with existing devices and will not require users to

get new devices, as 5G does.

Figure 16. Global Mobile Devices in Use. Source: Cisco VNI

Figure 17. WBA Industry Survey: Applications Driving Network and Traffic Growth




6.2 Meeting the IoT Challenges

While the growth potential of IoT is huge, so are

the challenges we have to address to create the

ecosystem, platforms and business models that

will support the dazzling variety of IoT use

cases. Everything in our environment can be

connected, and in most cases there are

applications that make this connection useful

and valuable. But as a result, IoT combines an

extremely heterogeneous set of devices,

applications, environments and players, each

with distinctive requirements along multiple

dimensions:

• Bandwidth: From very low (e.g. sensors) to

high (e.g. video surveillance cameras)

• Range: Close to APs (e.g. residential IoT)

to sparsely distributed (e.g. utility meters)

• Mobility: Stationary, nomadic or mobile

• Latency: From ultra-reliable low-latency

communications (URLLC) to latency-

tolerant applications (e.g. weather sensors)

• Reliability: Higher requirements for

medical devices or mission-critical

applications

• Security: Higher requirements for

enterprise or public safety applications

• Power and life-span requirements: Many

sensors require very low power

consumption and slow replacement cycles

Addressing requirements across all these

dimensions creates an unprecedented challenge

in wireless networks – today’s human users are

less variable than IoT applications in their use of

wireless connectivity. Multiple wireless

technologies are necessary to jointly meet the

set of unique requirements that these

dimensions define for each IoT application.

This creates further challenges. How should IoT

devices be managed across wireless

Which Use Cases Need IoT Roaming?

Mobile Use Cases

As it moves, the IoT device connects to APs in networks operated by different operators.

Examples: Automotive, asset tracking, fleet management.

Roaming Requirements: Roaming is required for connection to multiple networks and possibly for using different access technologies. The home service provider or application provider typically requires information on the location of the IoT device.

Nomadic Use Cases

While in use, the IoT device is stationary, but it may change location, frequently or occasionally.

Examples: Many wearable IoT devices, some healthcare devices.

Roaming Requirements: Roaming is required for the device to connect to the local network every time it changes location.

Fixed Use Cases

The IoT device is stationary, although it may very rarely change location (e.g. as a result of a move or a sale of the device).

Examples: Most residential IoT devices.

Roaming Requirements: The device has to connect locally to register with the home service or application provider, so that the device can be properly provisioned, monitored and updated.

Fixed Use Cases, Closed Networks

IoT devices that are stationary and connect to a local, closed network that has knowledge of the IoT devices approved in the network. In most instances, these networks do not need to use Wi-Fi or cellular technologies.

Examples: Smart meters connected to SigFox.

Roaming Requirements: Roaming is not required.

Table 5. Which Use Cases Need IoT Roaming? Source: Senza Fili




technologies? How should they be identified and protected? How should they connect to the IoT

service provider or the enterprise that controls the IoT application? This is where IoT roaming comes

in.

6.3 IoT Roaming with NGH, Passpoint and WRIX

In all use cases in which an IoT device connects through a local, open network to reach a home

service provider or application provider, roaming is required to verify the identity of the device and of

the network. Roaming is needed to protect the device, the visited network (e.g. the local Wi-Fi

network), and the application provider or enterprise that deployed the IoT applications:

• IoT device. Roaming ensures that the IoT device is connected to a secure and trusted network

that can support its requirements.

• Local Wi-Fi network (visited network). Roaming protects the local Wi-Fi network from

malicious attacks from IoT devices, by allowing access only to devices that can be authenticated

with credentials accepted by the visited network’s roaming partners.

• IoT application provider or enterprise (home network). Roaming protects the entity that

manages the IoT application, by restricting connectivity to known and trusted devices, and thus

ensures appropriate behavior of the applications

NGH, Passpoint and WRIX support Wi-Fi roaming for IoT applications as they do for Wi-Fi access for

human users. The local Wi-Fi network can use SIM and EAP credentials to authenticate and connect

the IoT devices, and to provide security and reliability. The IoT application provider and enterprise can

ensure the network meets the performance requirements. The WBA created WRIX to enable

Passpoint to take care of the commercial relationships, including billing, accounting and clearing. An

intermediary hub can be used to facilitate the connection of IoT devices across Wi-Fi networks to their

home IoT application provider. A neutral host or aggregator may also be part of the ecosystem, to

establish and manage roaming relationships between Wi-Fi operators (visited networks) and home

service providers.

6.4 Passpoint Enables Asset Tracking

The partnership between Armada and iPass is an example of how Wi-Fi roaming can improve asset

tracking. The Armada application collects the location information of goods moving through the

Armada supply chain, leveraging the iPass global network. Armada has developed battery-operated

tiles that customers include with shipments. Every time a tile gets within the range of an iPass

location, it connects to the local network and sends the location information to the Armada platform.

With this partnership Armada has been able to improve its supply-chain analytics and operational

efficiency. It has also been able to offer real-time asset intelligence to its customers in a cost-effective

way. Passpoint enables Armada tiles to be identified by Passpoint-enabled Wi-Fi networks and

authenticated without the need for a password or any action. For M2M connections where no human

can enter credentials, this is not just a nice-to-have feature, it is a requirement when the IoT device is

mobile and continues to encounter new Wi-Fi networks.




6.5 Optimizing Wi-Fi Roaming for IoT

Passpoint and WRIX provide a good

foundation for IoT roaming in Wi-Fi networks.

But more can be done to optimize it to meet

the specific requirements of IoT devices and

applications, and to fit it into the IoT

ecosystem – and at the same time use the

Wi-Fi infrastructure that also serves individual

users.

From a roaming perspective, most IoT

devices are fundamentally different from user

equipment (UE) such as smartphones and

tablets, and many applications have narrower

requirements than user connectivity does.

These are some of the areas where there is

scope for Wi-Fi roaming optimization to

support IoT applications in networks not

directly managed by the IoT service provider:

• Scalability. IoT will massively increase

the number of devices that will have to

be managed. Unlike smartphones or

laptops, many IoT devices generate little traffic, so wireless networks need to evolve to serve a

higher density of devices. In roaming, scalability entails a streamlined and automated process to

authenticate, secure and manage these devices, and that minimizes costs and complexity.

• Device credentials. Many IoT devices do not have a screen or a keyboard – or a nearby human

to use them – so they cannot use password-based authentication. In most cases, they also do

not have a SIM card, because SIM support is too expensive and complex for IoT applications that

do not require the use of cellular networks. Yet it is crucial to verify the identity of the device and

whether it should be granted access to the local Wi-Fi network, whether it is a residential,

enterprise or carrier network. This creates a need to allow a wider range of credential types while

retaining the level of security that SIM-based and certificate-based authentication provide for

devices like smartphones or laptops. As part of the recently launched Easy Connect certification

program from the Wi-Fi Alliance, the Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) contributes a new

protocol for mutual authentication that does not require a password, and instead uses public keys

such as QR codes and near field communications (NFC) tags to identify and securely

authenticate devices.

• Securing remote, unprotected devices. Because IoT devices are typically unsupervised and

sometimes installed in locations that are physically accessible (e.g. on a wall in a building open to

the public, or on outdoor furniture), they are vulnerable to physical tampering, and malicious

attacks from the device may threaten network security. So even if the IoT device itself – a sensor

or a light bulb – has a limited role in the network, its connection to the network has to be as

WBA’s Initiatives on IoT

The WBA’s initial work on IoT culminated in two white papers, “Internet of Things: New Vertical Value Chains & Interoperability” [23] and “IoT Interoperability: Dynamic Roaming” [24].

The WBA is currently working on identity management for IoT devices and on expanding NGH and Passpoint to IoT devices.

Further initiatives at the WBA focus on the business requirements for IoT roaming and interoperability. The WBA is exploring roaming models that support IoT devices with multiple wireless access technologies and that have widely different performance and service requirements. To this end, the WBA plans to establish a work group on IoT roaming, to encourage trials and to collaborate with other industry and standards organizations in establishing interoperability across access technologies and solutions.








secure as for any other device. Remote monitoring, tracking and visibility into the device are

ways to make remote and unprotected devices more secure.

• Device control. IoT application providers need visibility into the device not just for security

reasons, but also to monitor the condition of the device (e.g. power level), notice unusual or

unexpected behavior, detect faults, remotely update and generally manage the device.

• Device management. An IoT device may disrupt the visited network (e.g. due to malfunction or

a security issue). The visited network and the IoT application provider may need to jointly

manage the device to identify the root cause of the issue and end the disruption. In this case,

they both need visibility into the role of the device (e.g. is it a light bulb or an expensive medical

device that keeps a patient alive?) and the impact of the disruption on the network (e.g. is the

device taking the network down, or is it just creating more traffic than usual?).

• Edge computing. Some IoT applications may require or benefit from edge computing in the

visited network. For instance, video feeds from security cameras can be more effectively

processed locally, where the information about potential threats is needed. Sending video stream

to a centralized location and having the results of the analysis sent back is a needless use of

transport resources and increases latency.

• Billing and mediation. The financial arrangements that work for subscriber access with carriers

and service providers may not be well suited to IoT applications. Inappropriate arrangements

may result in lost revenues for Wi-Fi operators and, for IoT service providers, an inability to use

the Wi-Fi footprint. The roaming framework does not set the terms of IoT roaming relationships,

but it may be expanded to enable a broader range of billing and mediation models.

• Mobility support, session continuity. IoT applications that are strictly mobile (e.g. autonomous

driving) are unlikely to use Wi-Fi, because it does not provide the wide area coverage or

vehicular speed support that these applications require. But applications like asset tracking may

need Wi-Fi support for some level of mobility and possibly session continuity within and across

visited networks.

• Multiple access technologies. Many IoT applications and devices will use multiple access

technologies. For instance, an asset tracking application may use both cellular and Wi-Fi access.

As a result, the ability to coordinate access across technologies and share authentication

credentials will facilitate the adoption of some IoT applications – and thus expand the opportunity

for Wi-Fi to address the IoT market. A federated identity model such as the one supported by the

Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) may facilitate interoperability for roaming across

access interfaces.

Passpoint and WRIX deployments are based on a business model in which users connect mobile

devices in a visited network using their relationship with a home service provider, which is typically a

mobile operator, a multiple-system operator (MSO) or a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). In

the IoT ecosystem, often this is not the case.

The IoT device does get connected to a visited network, which may be operated by a local operator or

by a neutral host, and the roaming connection may be enabled or facilitated by a Wi-Fi operator or

aggregator (e.g. iPass or Boingo Wireless) and Wi-Fi roaming hub (e.g. Accuris or Syniverse) (Figure




18). But at the other end, we are more likely to have an over the top (OTT) IoT application provider or

enterprise than a carrier or service provider.

Passpoint and WRIX are not inherently limited to carrier and service providers as home networks

entities. Their implementation in the future is likely to evolve to facilitate the participation of new IoT

players.

7 Connecting the Unconnected: Smart Cities, Rural Areas and Developing

Countries

Wi-Fi’s wide adoption has created the economies of scale that ensure that most mobile broadband

devices have Wi-Fi and that Wi-Fi infrastructure equipment can be easily deployed everywhere at a

low cost. As a result, Wi-Fi has been and will continue to be a major driver to connect the

unconnected – in rural and urban areas and in developing and developed countries. Wi-Fi brings

connectivity to underserved areas or population segments through hotspots that may be deployed by

operators, public entities or communities. In city- or community-driven deployments, Wi-Fi often not

only supports basic connectivity, it also makes services available to the local population (see interview

below) and visitors.

Some governments actively encourage the deployment of Wi-Fi infrastructure to increase broadband

connectivity. In India, for instance, the Draft National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP) for 2018

envisions the creation of 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022, both in urban and rural areas. With

the late deployment of 4G networks and a low percentage of broadband households, users in India

have benefited from Wi-Fi hotspots to provide broadband connectivity, and operators rely on offload

to meet the explosive growth in demand for data access.

There are also technology-driven initiatives to bring better connectivity to underserved areas.

Facebook has launched the Terragraph project, which uses off-the-shelf WiGig equipment to create a

multi-node wireless network for FWA in urban areas, for residential and business users, and in

venues. Terragraph technology is based on 802.11ad and 802.11ay (WiGig) and is supported by

Qualcomm. It strives to reduce the capex for residential broadband connections, which traditionally

has hampered the deployment of broadband infrastructure in economically disadvantaged urban

Figure 18. The role of Wi-Fi Aggregators and Roaming Hubs to Link Users in the Visited Networks to their Home Network. Source: Senza Fili




areas. Terragraph networks will be installed on street-level assets (e.g. lampposts, rooftops, building

sides), in a line-of-sight, point-to-multipoint architecture with automatic rerouting and beam steering.

Facebook expects trials to start in the middle of 2019 and deliver 10 Gbps link rates using the

unlicensed 60 GHz band.

World Wi-Fi Day and the Connected Cities Advisory Board (CCAB)

World Wi-Fi Day is an initiative driven by WBA’s CCAB to recognize and promote the role of Wi-Fi, including its importance in connecting the unconnected as an affordable access technology.

Although the social and economic benefits of connectivity are recognized, almost half of the world’s population is still unconnected. Rural areas and developing countries have the lowest percentage of connectivity, but there are many unconnected people even in urban areas in developed countries [29]. During the latest World Wi-Fi Day, a survey of urban connectivity showed that even in London, the most connected major global city, 7% of the citizens are unconnected. In Moscow that percentage is 10%, in New York 19%. Delhi and Sao Paulo are the least connected among the major global cities, with populations that are 29% and 36% of unconnected, respectively.

CCAB members include city CIOs and officials from over 40 cities, including Barcelona, Dublin, Liverpool, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, San Jose and Singapore. CCAB goals are to encourage:

• The development of connected city plans and blueprints

• The identification and dissemination of best practices

• The creation of public-private partnerships

• The sharing of information and experience with city managers and CIOs

The CCAB published a report, “Connected City Blueprint 2017/18” [21] that offers guidelines for cities and governments wanting to extend connectivity and offer new services within the Connected City and the Smart City ecosystems.

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Connected-City-Blueprint-17.pdf




Conversation: With the People, not to the People: Smart Cities Create Communities

Interview with Julie Snell, Bristol is Open

Bristol is Open is a joint venture in the UK

between Bristol City Council and the University

of Bristol. It was established in 2014 to find

ways to change how the city delivers services

to people living or working in Bristol. The

project has a fiber backbone wireless network

that includes Wi-Fi – a canopy mesh network

across 2,400 locations – and other wireless

technologies. The network is being used to

research and develop smarter ways to support

the city’s emergency services, traffic control,

and citizen service applications. In our

conversation, Julie Snell, CEO of Bristol is

Open, talked about the role of Wi-Fi in bridging

the digital and economic divide in the city.

Question: What makes Bristol a good smart

city candidate?

Julie: Bristol owns a huge amount of ducting

that historically used to belong to a TV network

that delivered through fixed cable. This ducting

gave Bristol a head start, along with the

collaboration with the wireless engineering

team at University of Bristol. Government

funding helped us to put fiber into the ducting

that we could use to install wireless

technologies such as Wi-Fi and LTE, as well

as 5G trials. The city owns the end-to-end

network, so we have the opportunity to deliver

services, run city-based applications, and

provide connectivity in underserved

communities. It is hoped we can develop a

model that will enable consumer choice by

giving operators access to this network for

backhaul connectivity.

Question: How did you leverage the

infrastructure you deployed?

Julie: Many smart cities trials have not scaled

to the full rollout phase. We decided to focus

on a trial that could scale and we started by

asking ourselves what problems the city

needed to solve. Not future problems,

problems that exist today. We did not want to

start with the premise that we just wanted to

test the technology: we started with the

business case. We wanted to find out what

was failing in the current service delivery, how

much these failures are costing the city, and

how we could use the network infrastructure to

remedy this.

Question: What are you doing differently that

allows you to scale?

Julie: As you move into a wider rollout, you

start picking up large amounts of data from

devices, which we can aggregate. Once you

start collecting data, then ethics, politics and

security become central issues. Who owns that

data? Who’s got the right to deal with it? Who’s

touched that data? How secure is that data?

These are the elements that for so many have

prevented true scaling. We had to change our

mindset to address this if we wanted to impact

the lives of Bristolians in a positive manner.

Question: What services are at the top of your

list?

Julie: Our big next step is to address the

community, social and health issues in our city.

Bristol is a fast-growing city, but there are

segments of the population that are not part of

this successful track. In the more affluent parts

of the city, 88% of children go on to higher

education; in poorer areas this figure can be




less than 5% and life expectancy drops by an

average of 10 years.

The elderly are an especially vulnerable

segment of the population, often living with

long-term illnesses and living in isolation and

without the benefits connectivity can provide to

their well-being and care. There are

communities that have lost access to

manufacturing jobs as these companies have

either closed or moved. This has resulted in

large areas that have fallen behind in the

digital journey, where a broadband

subscription is often beyond the budget for

many people in the community.

Question: How does Wi-Fi help in these

environments?

Julie: We are looking at ways to install Wi-Fi in

the more deprived areas where people can’t

afford to pay full subscription fees for their

connectivity. We hope to do things like enable

connectivity for children to access school

portals to do their homework. Or monitor the

daily movement patterns of the frail inside their

homes. With simple, low-cost sensors, we can

build a picture of their movements and habits

so we can act in a preventive way to help them

stay safe and healthy. When these patterns

change – for instance, they are moving more

slowly, or they have not got out of bed – we

can trigger notifications or alarms.

Question: How do you respond to these

notifications or alarms?

Julie: Bristol has a 24-hour operations center

that monitors telecare services. The alert could

go to an elected neighbor or family member,

who we can ask to pop in to check. We can be

more focused on the preventive care – for

instance, engaging people in the community to

help those who need it, at a lower cost than

healthcare professionals – for tasks that do not

require medical training. This will enable the

frail and elderly to stay well at home and

shorten expensive hospital stays.

Question: Who can help the elderly or people

with illnesses?

Julie: We are creating community engagement

that includes people from many groups – such

Figure 19. Clifton Bridge, Bristol. Source: Bristol Is Open




as the retired, parents at home, unemployed –

who can support those in their community with

the social and financial impact of long-term

illnesses, which is becoming greater as people

live longer. The community can help with

simple tasks like changing a light bulb,

shopping, getting dressed, which are

expensive services if provided by professionals

sent by the healthcare system.

Question: What type of infrastructure do you

need?

Julie: We need the basic connectivity that a

Wi-Fi network can provide.

Research has shown that people who are

happy in their home are more likely to stay

healthy, which means they will stay in the

home. But elderly people often feel isolated, so

often they don’t know how best to seek help

from the people in their community.

We have to change our perspective on

communications. It is not something you

download, something between the user and

the internet. It has to go full circle, and we

need to help re-create a community spirit. We

want to contribute to improving the health of

our community, make it a better place to live,

and give people the communications

technology that will enable them to do it.

Question: How do you convince people in

their 80s who have never had a broadband

connection that they need one? Or teach them

how to use it?

Julie: We have to find more intelligent ways of

connecting with this part of our community. It is

as much about sharing the benefits in a

manner that they can understand. Sometimes

this means engaging with the digitally savvy

older generation to help us communicate with

those who are even older and not at all digital

savvy. The realization has to be about the

people. It has to be about the problems now

that need solving. We are no longer in the age

of waiting for smart cities. The technology’s

there. We are now working on how to put it all

together properly and use it. We are not doing

it to the people. We’re doing it with the people.

Figure 20. Bristol Is Open Stakeholders. Source: Bristol Is Open




Figure 21. WBA Industry Survey: Public Wi-Fi Challenges

Figure 22. WBA Industry Survey: Public Wi-Fi Services




8 Expanding Wi-Fi Reach in New Unlicensed Bands

Wi-Fi has consistently demonstrated that spectrum utilization in unlicensed bands is very high. In the

US, Wi-Fi accounts for 67% of mobile traffic, 55% of mobile connection time and 48% of mobile

sessions (Telecom Advisory Services), using only the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The high level of

frequency reuse is driven by multiple users competing for valuable spectrum resources, using a

regulatory framework that ensures fair access to all users – residential users, enterprises, venue

owners, carriers and other service providers, cities, public agencies and wireless internet service

providers (WISPs).

The high spectrum utilization in unlicensed bands creates social benefits and economic value. In the

US the estimated economic value of unlicensed spectrum is $499 billion in 2018 and is expected to

reach $933 billion in 2023 (Telecom Advisory Services) [15], with residential Wi-Fi being the largest

contributor. Globally, Telecom Advisory Services estimated the economic value of Wi-Fi to be $1,96

trillion in 2018, rising to $3.47 billion in 2023.

Yet the future forecasted value could be reduced if there is insufficient unlicensed spectrum to meet

the demand. Despite the efficiency of Wi-Fi in using spectrum resources, Wi-Fi and other

technologies need additional spectrum to continue to accommodate traffic growth. The 2.4 GHz band

is heavily used and affected by congestion in locations with high-density traffic. As a larger portion of

Wi-Fi traffic moves to the 5 GHz band, congestion has started to affect the 5 GHz band as well.

The growth in the economic value of unlicensed access is contingent on the availability of new

unlicensed spectrum bands that can carry the increasing traffic loads from user mobile devices and

Figure 23. Illustration of the Spectrum Shortfall per Region, by Year and Demand level. Source: Quotient




IoT devices. A study [16] of Wi-Fi spectrum needs by Quotient estimated that an additional 500 MHz

to 1 GHz of unlicensed spectrum is needed to satisfy Wi-Fi traffic demand.

Regulators worldwide are exploring options for allocating spectrum to unlicensed use. Advances in

spectrum sensing, interference management and technology coexistence expand the range of

spectrum bands that can be opened to unlicensed use, to include bands where there are already

incumbent users. This is a major step forward, because new spectrum bands that are targeted for

unlicensed use are often already allocated for a specific use and/or licensed to incumbent users.

Because it is now possible to manage coexistence with incumbent spectrum users, they can retain

priority access and unlicensed access can be allowed where spectrum sits unused. The Citizens

Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) framework in the US and spectrum sharing arrangements in other

countries have established innovative regulatory frameworks that can be customized to add

unlicensed access in other bands, while protecting incumbent access.

In addition to the expansion into unlicensed bands already available with WiGig and HaLow, Wi-Fi will

benefit from the allocation of the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz) to unlicensed use in the US. The 6

GHz band would add 1200 MHz of spectrum, doubling the spectrum available to Wi-Fi. The 6 GHz

band is well suited for IIoT and IoT applications, because initially there will little contention in this band

and, even in the long term, there is enough spectrum, especially if using the traffic management

capabilities of 802.11ax. More generally, the additional spectrum in the 6 GHz band will increase the

scalability of use cases such as VR/AR that require low latency and high capacity.

The FCC plans to open the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use and is exploring how to protect the

continued use of the band by incumbents with interference protection. A final decision by the FCC is

expected at the end of 2019. The prize is large and so the is the Wi-Fi community’s eagerness to get

the 6 GHz band allocated to unlicensed use. The opening the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use will have

Figure 24. Economic Value of Unlicensed Spectrum in the US, in Billions. Source: Telecom Advisory Services




a large impact worldwide, and it is likely to accelerate the allocation of spectrum to unlicensed use in

other countries.

In the US, the 5.9 GHz band, currently allocated as Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC)

for Intelligent Transportation Services (ITS), is another band that could be allocated to unlicensed

access. While the spectrum is sparsely used, the car industry opposes unlicensed access in the band,

so there is limited activity on this front. It is also less attractive than the 6 GHz band because it is

limited to 75 MHz.

9 The future of Wi-Fi beyond 802.11ax

In the evolution of Wi-Fi as an access technology, 802.11ax is the next major step. It will redefine

Wi-Fi performance and functionality in a way that is comparable to the transition from 4G to 5G. But

the progression of Wi-Fi goes beyond 802.11ax – and beyond the IEEE work on the 802.11 standard

– to include technologies and tools from the broader wireless community and from other fields.

9.1 Edge Computing

Since its inception, Wi-Fi has been a technology with a distributed architecture. Most cellular networks

cover entire countries – or at least a good percentage of the territory – and have a highly centralized

structure to enable mobility. Wi-Fi networks are highly local: they serve users within a limited area

and, wherever they go, users can connect to the local network. Even a Wi-Fi venue that is part of a

large Wi-Fi network is architected as a stand-alone network: the Wi-Fi network in an airport is

independent from a Wi-Fi network in another airport elsewhere and from a Wi-Fi network in a stadium

in the same city, even if they are operated by the same carrier or Wi-Fi integrator.

Figure 25. WBA Industry Survey: Spectrum and regulatory policy




In this perspective, edge computing has always been inherent to Wi-Fi networks and to any

application or service they support. For the enterprise, a stand-alone Wi-Fi network means control

over its performance and over the services it provides – a highly valuable benefit and driver for the

success of Wi-Fi over the years. For residential users, local functionality has created home networks

in which devices work with each other without the need to connect to a network core. For carriers,

Wi-Fi’s distributed architecture coupled with local breakout is necessary to Wi-Fi offload.

With new use cases that require intensive processing and low latency, edge computing becomes

even more prominent and valuable in Wi-Fi networks. And the new edge computing requirements are

easy to accommodate because of Wi-Fi’s distributed architecture.

New Wi-Fi use cases that require ultra-reliable low latency (URLL), or a combination of low latency

and high capacity, typically need edge computing. With processing and content closer to the edge,

applications are not affected by the unavoidable latency that backhaul, transport and internet access

introduce. Applications such as VR and AR greatly benefit from edge computing, because often the

content is local or stored locally. That way, in many instances sending the content back to the core is

unnecessary and would be wasteful of network resources.

Other applications that are tied to the location – location-based services, some advertising,

enterprise- and venue-specific applications – also benefit from edge computing. At the edge, they give

more control and flexibility to the enterprise and venue, and they can provide better security and

performance.

Figure 26. WBA Industry Survey: Multi-access Edge Computing




9.2 Network Slicing

Network slicing allows operators to create separate traffic flows that can be managed independently

to meet their specific requirements. This enables operators to optimize the utilization of network

resources and to more efficiently and effectively support multiple applications and services. For

instance, they can ensure that mission-critical traffic is assigned to a network slice with the highest

priority, while a low-bandwidth, latency-tolerant IoT application may be assigned to a slice with a

lower priority. Network slices can be defined by multiple parameters, including priority, latency,

throughput, policy, security, mobility, reliability, charging and user.

As discussed in a paper by the WBA [25], Wi-Fi can support some slicing functionality in the access

network already, by using the network service set IDs (SSID) to create the Wi-Fi equivalent of a slice.

Wi-Fi manages the traffic from different SSIDs separately, using virtual local access networks

(VLANs), so it is possible to use VLANs and SSIDs to deploy network slicing functionality in the

access network. In residential networks, basic service set IDs (BSSIDs) can be used to create the

equivalent of network slices. The network can isolate traffic between different slices, define resources

for each slice and prioritize transmission for different slices.

When the Wi-Fi network is using SSIDs or BSSIDs to define network slices, the device can selectively

associate to one slice, or move from one to another slice. Unlike with network slicing in cellular

networks, however, a device connected to a Wi-Fi network can be connected to only one SSID/BSSID

– i.e. to one slice – at a time.

If the Wi-Fi network is integrated within a cellular network in which slicing is implemented end to end,

the network slicing in the core of the cellular network can be extended to the Wi-Fi network in the

radio access network (RAN).

The introduction of 802.11ax will enable more-advanced management of spectrum resources, which

will make the partitioning of resources among users and slices easier and more effective.

9.3 Blockchain

Blockchain can be used to share Wi-Fi access, give visitors Wi-Fi access in public locations and

create a low-cost Wi-Fi infrastructure that relies on residential users to allow guest users on their

network. The blockchain operator creates a decentralized broadband market in which the tokens it

issues are used to purchase connectivity or advertising. World Wi-Fi, Source and Ammbr are among

Wi-Fi blockchain operators funded by an initial coin offering (ICO).

The network host – typically a residential broadband user with a Wi-Fi AP – allows guests to access a

portion of their network, while keeping a personal portion separate and being able to access the

network as they need. The Source and Ammbr marketplaces are based on pay-as-you-go

connectivity, where World Wi-Fi users get guest access free, with advertisers using tokens to

compensate the Wi-Fi hosts. All transactions are based on micropayments and typically use

cryptocurrencies.

While this is an interesting exploratory approach, it is unlikely to revolutionize public broadband

access, and many of its features are similar to Wi-Fi sharing models such as the one used by Fon.

However, a pay-as-you-go service using micropayments may be effective in emerging countries or

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Network-Slicing-Understanding-Wi-Fi-Capabilities.pdf




underserved areas, where it can provide the unconnected with access and become a revenue source

for the host. Smart cities may find this model useful to provide access and services without having to

invest in the network infrastructure. The Wi-Fi blockchain model may also be used to include other

technologies – e.g. cellular. Carriers, MVNOs or other service providers may explore some of the

blockchain functionality to offer service on their networks.

9.4 Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Analytics

Managing Wi-Fi networks and optimizing their performance take time and require expert staff. And

these resources are needed in larger quantities as networks become more advanced in functionality

and performance and their complexity increases. At the same time, many enterprises have become

so reliant on Wi-Fi that any network disruption causes big financial losses in productivity. In a delivery

company such a FedEx or UPS, Wi-Fi network crashes may severely slow down parcel delivery or

transport. Lack of Wi-Fi connectivity in an airport is likely to have a major impact on flight scheduling.

AI and ML can help Wi-Fi operators identify complex network problems, isolate root causes, find

solutions and resolve problems – and, eventually, to predict and prevent problems. Analytics are

needed to select the relevant data from the massive amount a network generates and to crunch

through it, using AI, ML and other tools to optimize network performance. To benefit from this learning

process and contain its costs, automation is needed manage the complexity. A closed-loop

automation approach creates a continuous learning process that delivers incremental optimization of

the network.

Multiple solutions are available in the market, using different approaches:

• Aruba has launched NetInsight as software as a service (SaaS) that uses AI to troubleshoot

Wi-Fi networks.

• KodaCloud combines AI, analytics and

automation for radio frequency (RF)

optimization, cell-size optimization,

channel planning and AP selection.

Network information is collected at the

edge, in the AP, and it is analyzed in the

cloud.

• Mojo Cognitive Wi-Fi gives Wi-Fi

operators and venue owners a way to

optimize network performance and

troubleshoot performance issues, and it

uses analytics to monitor device location

and behavior in real time. This

information, collected on an anonymous

basis, can be used for marketing,

advertising, security, and network

management.

Figure 27. Wi-Fi Access with Blockhain. Source: Ammbr




• Mist, a Wi-Fi provider, has developed a platform that uses AI to optimize Wi-Fi networks, improve

user experience by prioritizing traffic and managing resource access, and monitor and

troubleshoot network performance. In its cloud-based architecture, it tracks network data

collected in real time from Wi-Fi APs. It sifts the data to manage network performance, automate

network operations and provide location-based context that can be used to improve user

experience and provide asset location information.

• Cognitive Systems has developed a solution to detect motion throughout the home by using the

Wi-Fi signal from APs and devices, combining a RF sensing technology developed by the

company with proprietary algorithms, AI and ML. This solution is ideally suited for the smart

home that has multiple APs and many connected devices, because the granularity and reliability

of motion detection increases with the number of Wi-Fi APs and devices, but works in any legacy

Wi-Fi network. The motion context and awareness can be used as the basis for applications such

as home security, monitoring and energy management, as well as for personal applications, e.g.

for health-assistance.

10 Wireless Convergence: Wi-Fi and 5G Better Together

Wi-Fi and cellular technologies were created to meet fundamentally different communication needs.

Wi-Fi was designed to provide data connectivity to fixed users at home or in the enterprise, in

distributed, stand-alone networks that use unlicensed spectrum open to all. Cellular was initially a

voice technology, to be deployed in networks that covered large national footprints, used licensed

spectrum and were owned and managed by operators. The convergence between the two

technologies started a long time ago, with cellular networks moving towards data and Wi-Fi networks

towards voice. With small cells, cellular moved closer to the Wi-Fi AP deployment model. With

Passpoint, Wi-Fi moved closer to the cellular roaming model. The list goes on as the two main

Figure 28. WBA Industry Survey: Cloud, Big Data, AI, Digital Identity, Blockchain




wireless technologies learned from each other to meet the expectations and demands of users and to

improve performance and efficiency.

10.1 Technology Differentiation

Yet both Wi-Fi and cellular have preserved a clear differentiation that strengthened the role and value

each brings to wireless connectivity.

Wi-Fi’s main strength lies in its ability to provide in-building stationary connectivity across stand-alone

local networks in homes, venues and public hotspots. Because of the massive installed base of Wi-Fi

devices and equipment, Wi-Fi achieves a high frequency reuse at a low per-bit cost.

Cellular can cost-effectively provide wide-area coverage and mobile access, almost exclusively

through public networks. While the infrastructure equipment is more expensive than Wi-Fi, the per-

km2 cost is lower because cellular uses bands that allow longer range. The exclusive use of spectrum

in licensed bands makes cellular more spectrally efficient.

10.2 Closing the Gap

With the next generation of Wi-Fi and 5G, the gap between the technologies is narrowing. Both are

expanding to new, higher-frequency bands: Wi-Fi to the 60 GHz band with WiGig, 5G to mmW bands.

5G follows the path initiated with licensed-assisted access (LAA) in 4G to include unlicensed

spectrum, operating both anchored to a licensed band and in stand-alone unlicensed networks,

alongside Wi-Fi. MU-MIMO is essential to both technologies. Both Wi-Fi and 5G target low-latency

use cases such as VR/AR and industrial automation, and private networks that benefit from

distributed architectures, edge computing and network slicing. Mobile operators will continue to use

Wi-Fi offload, but we may also start seeing 5G offload, where Wi-Fi traffic is moved to less crowded

Figure 29. Enhanced 802.11 Capabilities Compared with IMT-Advanced and IMT-2020. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance




5G networks. Real-time traffic management, AI, analytics and automation promise to bring a better

user experience and more efficient use of network resources to both technologies.

10.3 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

The evolution of Wi-Fi to 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and the evolution of cellular to 5G have followed

independent parallel paths, because they are united in addressing increasing traffic volumes,

demanding use cases, and IoT adoption. Not surprisingly, they both meet most of the IMT-2020

requirements for the next generation of mobile networks. The main exception is that 802.11ax will not

support vehicular mobility – this is because Wi-Fi is not a mobile technology, even though it supports

low-speed mobility. At the same time, 5G alone would be too expensive and insufficient to carry all

the traffic, especially in high-density areas and indoor locations.

The performance of both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G is impressive in the controlled environment of a test or trial

[22]. But to meet the IMT-2020 requirements in real-life, high-traffic indoor and outdoor environments,

we need the two technologies to coexist side-by-side to deliver the performance we need in scale and

cost.

As deployments of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G expand, the relative strengths and roles of the two technologies

will remain largely unchanged (Figure 29). In most markets, 802.11ax will arrive ahead of 5G (Figure

30), with four times as many 802.11ax connections as 5G by 2021 [9]. Wi-Fi will also benefit from a

smoother transition to 802.11ax, because with its backward compatibility, Wi-Fi operators can install

802.11ax while continuing to support legacy devices [19].

Figure 30. 802.11ax and 5G Standardization and Adoption timeline. Source: Wireless Broadband Alliance

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/5G-Networks-Role-of-Wi-Fi-and-Unlicensed-Technologies-V2.pdf




10.4 Convergence beyond Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

Wireless convergence is not just about Wi-Fi and cellular – and their latest versions, Wi-Fi 6 and 5G.

Although they are the technologies that will serve most users and carry most of the traffic, other

wireless technologies will play a role in ensuring pervasive connectivity of people and things across

different environments, meeting an increasing variety of connectivity needs.

Many IoT applications have very specific requirements in terms of range, capacity, power, security,

cost and reliability that neither Wi-Fi nor 5G is well suited to meet. Technologies like Bluetooth and

Zigbee address short-range IoT connectivity requirements, for instance in the home, while NB-IoT,

LoRa and SigFox serve the market for low-power, low-bandwidth and long-range IoT, for instance

utility meters or remote sensors.

Technologies like MulteFire, LAA and CBRS/OnGo use new approaches to spectrum use and

network deployments:

• MulteFire uses LTE in unlicensed bands in private networks that cover a specific location and do

not require control-plane anchoring support from a licensed band. It enables enterprise and

venue owners to use LTE, sharing the unlicensed spectrum with Wi-Fi.

• LAA uses LTE in the 5 GHz unlicensed band and requires anchoring in a licensed band, thus

limiting the use of LAA to mobile operators or service providers with an LTE core.

• CBRS, recently branded as OnGo, operates in the 3.5 GHz band in the US. It uses a new three-

tiered spectrum framework, in which incumbents retain priority access, licensed users with

Priority Access Licenses (PALs) can use the spectrum where and when incumbents do not use it,

and unlicensed users can share the spectrum that incumbents and PAL holders do not claim.

Figure 31. WBA Industry Survey: Network Transformation and 5G




Today, these technologies are based on LTE, but in due time they will evolve or migrate to 5G. They

are valuable complements to Wi-Fi and licensed cellular, because they meet specific application,

business model and ownership requirements, and contribute to a more efficient utilization of the

spectrum.

10.5 Integrating Wi-Fi and Cellular

Wireless convergence creates an optimal environment for integration across access technologies,

and in particular between Wi-Fi and cellular – with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G accelerating this process.

3GPP is leading the way in creating standards that integrate Wi-Fi within cellular networks, both to

enable authentication and roaming of devices into cellular networks, and to use 5G as a traffic

management platform that works across access technologies, including Wi-Fi. The integration of

Wi-Fi and cellular enables operators and service providers to optimize traffic across access networks.

They can direct traffic to the interface that supports the best user experience or the most efficient use

of network resources, based on operator policy or on real-time network conditions, traffic or

application type. For more detailed information, refer to the “Unlicensed Integration with 5G Networks”

paper by the WBA [28].

Integration of Wi-Fi in cellular networks can be implemented at multiple levels – devices, access and

core. Depending on the type of integration desired, network operators can also choose the mix of

integration tools. These may include:

• LTE WLAN Aggregation (LWA) and LTE WLAN Radio Level Integration with IPsec Tunnel

(LWIP). They integrate Wi-Fi in the cellular RAN in a cellular network. A licensed cellular channel

manages the control plane and Wi-Fi is used for data traffic in the user plane.

Figure 32. WBA Industry Survey: Wireless Technologies Planned Deployments




• Dual connectivity. Mobile devices can establish an active connection to multiple air interfaces,

enabling a mobile device to be simultaneously connected to a Wi-Fi AP and a New Radio (NR) or

LTE cell, thus improving resource utilization over both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular networks and

enhancing user experience.

• S2a- and S2b-based Mobility over GTP (SaMOG) and Enhanced SaMOG. SaMOG defines

the interworking between Wi-Fi in the RAN and the cellular core. Trusted Wi-Fi networks can use

a WLAN Access Gateway to send traffic directly to the internet or to the 3GPP mobile core.

• Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF). With ANDSF, mobile devices

decide whether to connect to the cellular network or to Wi-Fi, when both are available. While

SaMOG is network driven, ANDSF is device driven. ANDSF facilitates the discovery of Wi-Fi

networks and enables operators to apply policy rules to the device to manage the Wi-Fi

connection.

• Multipath TCP. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is working on multipath

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to enable mobile devices to connect to more than one air

interface at the same time. Multipath TCP allows for TCP connections to use multiple radio

access technologies to improve resource utilization, add redundancy and improve the user

experience. With Multipath TCP, a mobile device can be connected to a cellular and a Wi-Fi

network at the same time, and the TCP end-to-end connection is maintained as the user moves

in and out of coverage.

Figure 33. WBA Industry Survey: Licensed and Unlicensed Convergence and Coexistence




Conversation: Why We Need Convergence

Interview with Dr. Derek Peterson, CTO, Boingo Wireless

The combination of 802.11ax and 5G will push

us toward a convergence of multiple wireless

technologies across licensed, unlicensed and

shared bands – Wi-Fi, 5G, LTE, MulteFire,

CBRS and more. New technologies enable

convergence, but it is our pervasive

connectivity needs – from IoT to immersive

experiences – that drive it and make it

necessary. We cannot choose between Wi-Fi

and 5G: we need them both. I talked with Dr.

Derek Peterson, CTO at Boingo Wireless,

about the role of convergence as we enter the

802.11ax and 5G era.

Question: Both 802.11ax and 5G promise

blazing speeds and extra-low latencies. Some

argue that we may not need them, and that it

may be too expensive to build the necessary

infrastructure. Do you think they are right?

Derek: We are consistently using more data,

and we consistently want better experiences

with our networks. When we look back, we had

our first life, our physical life, and then we had

our digital life. They were very separate. Then

in the last two decades, applications tried to

bring the digital and physical lives closer

together – with apps like Foursquare for

checking yourself into a location. Now what

we’re trying to do is to get immersed inside of

our content. A good example of immersive

experience is 360-degree video: you can sit in

a room and have a virtual reality experience

instead of staring at a TV screen. We need

higher speeds and lower latency to have this

type of immersive experience. We want our

networks to be part of our physical world, to

bring the physical and the digital worlds

together. We need both Wi-Fi and 5G to get

there.

Question: How will Wi-Fi and 5G work

together to create this immersive experience,

or feed our data consumption?

Derek: We have tried to get Wi-Fi and cellular

to work together since the early 2000s, and the

path continues. Abraham Lincoln said, “The

best way to predict your future is to create it.” It

is on us to push ourselves so that we can

create a future in which Wi-Fi, 5G and 4G work

together to meet our connectivity needs, all the

way to immersive experiences.

To make that happen, we still need Wi-Fi. And

we still need cellular. I’ve heard arguments that

in the future cellular will take over, and Wi-Fi

will disappear. I’ve heard Wi-Fi people say the

same thing about cellular.

The reality is that to take advantage of all of

the use cases we need Wi-Fi and we need

cellular. We need them to work together, and

we need to work towards that.

Question: What is the role of unlicensed

spectrum in the transition to 5G and in the

growing interest in using 4G and 5G with

unlicensed spectrum?

Derek: With unlicensed spectrum, we get

access to spectrum without purchasing large

swaths of airwaves and this allows us to

innovate. We need to continue and expand this

innovation cycle. Unlicensed spectrum allows

us to create new performance layers and

flexibility for all kinds of service providers and

all kinds of use cases.

Question: What do we need to do with Wi-Fi

to achieve this convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G?

Derek: Wi-Fi has to be able to create a carrier-

grade experience. To do so, we need network

discovery and access, and have to create a




high-quality, secured and manageable user

experience.

Passpoint is a step towards this goal: it allows

users to use the same credentials on their

devices to connect to the local network and to

the cellular network.

We are also going to be able to take

advantage of multiple services across Wi-Fi,

4G and 5G. To do so, we need our 5G, 4G and

Wi-Fi cores working together, and we need to

deliver SLAs that work across all of these

access technologies.

Question: Will convergence lead to a more

efficient use of spectrum resources?

Derek: 802.11ax will provide better coverage

and capacity for Wi-Fi. HaLow (802.11ah) will

give us long-distance connections for IoT.

There’s also WiGig (802.11ad) for short-range,

high-speed connections.

But we need convergence across access

technologies to take advantage of all spectrum

ranges – from below 1 GHz to the 6 GHz,

where most traffic is transported today, to the

38 GHz and 60 GHz bands. We also need to

increase spectrum efficiency.

All types of spectrum – licensed, unlicensed,

shared – have a use case. We need to

understand what different spectrum ranges can

do and identify how we can benefit from their

characteristics.

Question: How will convergence shape the

densification of the in-building space?

Derek: In our hyper-dense, converged

networks of the future, we will no longer

connect only to cell towers, as we used to. The

in-building infrastructure will take on a larger

role, and this is where Wi-Fi has a strong

presence already. The connected venue of the

future is at the center of Wi-Fi and 5G

convergence, and it has to take advantage of

all wireless access technologies to support

data and voice access, IoT and immersive

experience use cases.

Figure 34. Network Convergence. Source: Boingo Wireless




11 Summary

• Today Wi-Fi is by far the dominant wireless access technology, in the home, enterprise and

public locations. Wi-Fi taught us what wireless broadband is, and continues to be the technology

we use most to get connected with mobile devices.

• The ubiquity, reliability, performance and cost effectiveness of Wi-Fi have created a massive

footprint that will retain its prominent role as we transition to 5G.

• Wi-Fi continues to evolve at a fast pace, but it is committed to serve its broad user base. Wi-Fi

provides backward compatibility, enabling users to continue to use their equipment as new

versions of Wi-Fi become available.

• The transition to Wi-Fi 6 will be momentous and bring better data rates, lower latency, enhanced

support for new and existing use cases, but it will also be gradual. Users, enterprises, operators,

service providers and cities can upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 at their own pace, without having to commit

to a new network infrastructure and devices as required by 5G, and with the flexibility they need

to maximize the return on their investment.

• With the increased adoption of NGH-Passpoint, the scope for Wi-Fi roaming is expanding

beyond the seamless and safe connectivity in guest Wi-Fi networks that users enjoy when they

visit new locations or when they are outside the home or their workplace.

• Wi-Fi roaming provides a framework to deploy new services that create a richer and more

satisfactory user experience, a new revenue streams for venue owners, cities and service

providers, and an enabler for IoT applications.

• Location-based services, citizen and visitor services, marketing applications, and advertisement

are areas with great potential for venue owners, retail players, content and application providers,

cities, network operators and service providers.

• To continue to grow, Wi-Fi needs more spectrum. The increased spectrum efficiency and

densification capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 will increase Wi-Fi’s capacity, but it is insufficient to meet the

increasing traffic loads from video consumption and new use cases such as VR/AR and IoT.

• With HaLow (900 MHz) and WiGig (mmW, 60GHz), Wi-Fi is now available in new bands to serve

low-bandwidth IoT applications and hyper-dense environments.

• The anticipated opening of the 6 GHz band in the US to unlicensed use addresses the growing

demand for Wi-Fi access. It will have a massive impact because it will double the amount of

spectrum available to Wi-Fi in the US, and encourage regulators worldwide to follow this path.




WBA INDUSTRY SURVEY: METHODOLOGY

The WBA conducted its annual survey during the 2018 summer on the use and perception of Wi-Fi

among its members and the general public. Among the 184 respondents, service providers and

operators accounted for 38%, equipment and IT vendors for 27%, and device vendors for 9%; 39%

were from North America, 33% from Europe, and 24% from Asia Pacific. The largest groups of

respondents were from North America (39%) and from Western Europe (33%). For questions that

targeted a specific group (e.g. operators or smart cities), only the answers from that group were

included. Respondents had the option to remain anonymous, but most volunteered their name and

job affiliation.




REFERENCES

[1] ABI Research, ABI Research Anticipates More Than 20 Billion Cumulative Wi-Fi Chipset Shipments by 2021 While Increased Use of 5GHz Spectrum Raises Coexistence Issues with LTE-U, 2016.

[2] Byron Magrane, Next-Generation Wireless at Mobile World Congress, 2018.

[3] Cisco, Cisco Delivers High Quality Wi-Fi Network Connectivity for over 20,000 Attendees at Mobile World Congress Americas, in partnership with CTIA, 2017.

[4] Cisco, Cisco Visual Networking Index: Forecast and Methodology, 2016–2021, 2017.

[5] Cisco, IEEE 802.11ax: The Sixth Generation of Wi-Fi, 2018.

[6] Cisco, The Zettabyte Era: Trends and Analysis, 2017.

[7] Dan Klaeren, Business Guide for Wi-Fi Roaming Wholesale Success, Syniverse, 2016

[8] Dell’Oro Group, Wireless LAN (WLAN) Market Revenue Will Grow to $18.2 Billion by 2022, 2018.

[9] Emeka Obiodu, Mark Giles, The 5G era: Age of Boundless Connectivity and Intelligent Automation, GSMA, 2017.

[10] Ericsson, Ericsson Mobility Report, 2018.

[11] Matt MacPherson, Cisco Lights Up Barcelona, Cisco, 2018.

[12] Netradar/Wi-Fi NOW, Japan on an Hourly Basis, 2018.

[13] Parks Associates, 76% of North American Broadband Households Use Wi-Fi as Their Primary Connection Technology, 2018,

[14] Raul Katz, Assessment of the Current and Future Economic Value of Unlicensed Spectrum In the United States, Telecom Advisory Services, 2018.

[15] Raul Katz, Fernando Callorda, The Economic Value of Wi-Fi: A Global View (2018 and 2023), Telecom Advisory Services, 2018.

[16] Steve Methle, William Webb, Wi-Fi Spectrum Needs Study, Quotient Associates Limited, 2017. [17] Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi 6: High Performance, Next Generation Wi-Fi, 2018.

[18] Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance Publishes 2018 Wi-Fi Predictions, 2018.

[19] Wireless Broadband Alliance, 5G Networks: The Role of Wi-Fi and Unlicensed Technologies, 2017.

[20] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Cisco, Great Teamwork Brings NGH Live to MWC18, 2018.

[21] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Connected City Blueprint, Connected City Advisory Board, 2017.

[22] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Enhanced Wi-Fi – 802.11ax Decoded: Overview, Features, Use Cases and 5G Context, 2018.

[23] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Internet of Things: New Vertical Value Chains & Interoperability, 2017.

[24] Wireless Broadband Alliance, IoT Interoperability: Dynamic Roaming, 2018.

[25] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Network Slicing: Understanding Wi-Fi Capabilities, 2018.

[26] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) Milestones, 2018.

https://www.abiresearch.com/press/abi-research-anticipates-more-20-billion-cumulativ/



https://blogs.cisco.com/wireless/next-generation-wireless-at-mobile-world-congress

https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1886501

https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1886501

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/complete-white-paper-c11-481360.pdf

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/white-paper-c11-740788.pdf

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/vni-hyperconnectivity-wp.pdf

http://www.delloro.com/news/wireless-lan-wlan-market-revenue-will-grow-18-2-billion-2022-according-delloro-group

https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=0efdd9e7b6eb1c4ad9aa5d4c0c971e62&download

https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=0efdd9e7b6eb1c4ad9aa5d4c0c971e62&download

https://www.ericsson.com/assets/local/mobility-report/documents/2018/ericsson-mobility-report-june-2018.pdf

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/m/en_us/network-intelligence/service-provider/digital-transformation/knowledge-network-webinars/pdfs/0619-mobility-ckn.pdf

http://www.netradar.com/japan-on-an-hourly-basis/

http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-01242018

http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-01242018

http://dynamicspectrumalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WiFi-Foward_Economic-Value_Shared-Spectrum_Report_05172018.pdf

http://dynamicspectrumalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WiFi-Foward_Economic-Value_Shared-Spectrum_Report_05172018.pdf

https://www.wi-fi.org/downloads-registered-guest/Economic%2BValue%2Bof%2BWi-Fi%2B2018.pdf/35675

https://www.wi-fi.org/downloads-registered-guest/Economic%2BValue%2Bof%2BWi-Fi%2B2018.pdf/35675

https://www.wi-fi.org/download.php?file=/sites/default/files/private/Wi-Fi_6_White_Paper_20181003.pdf

https://www.wi-fi.org/news-events/newsroom/wi-fi-alliance-publishes-2018-wi-fi-predictions



https://www.wballiance.com/cisco-great-team-work-brings-ngh-live-to-mwc-18/

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Connected-City-Blueprint-17.pdf

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Enhanced-802.11ax-Overview-Use-Cases-Features-5G-Context-v1.asd-Final-Clean.pdf





https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Network-Slicing-Understanding-Wi-Fi-Capabilities.pdf

https://www.wballiance.com/ngh-achievements/




[27] Wireless Broadband Alliance, NGH Provisioning Standardization White Paper, 2017.

[28] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Unlicensed Integration with 5G Networks, 2018.

[29] Wireless Broadband Alliance, The Urban Unconnected, HIS Markit and Wireless Broadband Alliance, 2017.

[30] Wireless Broadband Alliance, Wi-Fi: Value-Add and Advertising: The Evolution of Wi-Fi Advertising and Location Service, 2018.

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACRONYM / ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

AAA Authentication, Authorization and Accounting

AGV Automated Guided Vehicles

AI Artificial Intelligence

ANDSF Access Network Discovery and Selection Function

AP Access Point

AR Augmented Reality

BSS Basic Service Set

BSSID Basic Service Set ID

CBRS Citizens Broadband Radio Service

CWSC Carrier Wireless Services Certification

DPP Device Provisioning Protocol

DSRC Dedicated Short-Range Communications

EAP Extensible Authentication Protocol

FOTA Firmware Over the Air

FWA Fixed Wireless Access

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

GRX Global Roaming Exchange

GTP GPRS Tunneling Protocol

GSMA Global System for Mobile Communications Association

ICO Initial Coin Offering

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WBA-NGH-Provisioning-Standardization-White-Paper-v1.0.pdf

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Unlicensed-Integration-with-5G-Networks.pdf

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-Urban-Unconnected_White-Paper.pdf

https://www.wballiance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-Urban-Unconnected_White-Paper.pdf






ICP Interoperability Compliancy Program

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IETF internet Engineering Task Force

IIoT Industrial Internet of Things

iOS iPhone Operating System

IoT Internet of Things

IMT International Mobile Telecommunications

ITS Intelligent Transportation Services

ITU International Telecommunication Union

LAA Licensed-Assisted Access

LAN Local Area Network

LoRA Long Range

LR-WPAN Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Network

LTE Long Term Evolution

LWA LTE WLAN aggregation

LWIP LTE WLAN Radio Level Integration with IPsec Tunnel

M2M Machine to Machine

MEC Multi-Access Edge Computing

MIMO Multiple Input, Multiple Output

ML Machine Learning

mmW Millimeter Wave

MSO Multiple-System Operator

MU-MIMO Multi-user Multiple Input, Multiple Output

MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator

MWC Mobile World Congress

MWCA Mobile World Congress Americas

NB-IoT Narrow-Band IoT

NDCP National Digital Communication Policy

NFC Near Field Communications




NGH Next Generation Hotspot

NGMN Next Generation Mobile Networks [Alliance]

NR New Radio

OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access

OTT Over The Top

OWE Opportunistic Wireless Encryption

PAL Priority Access License

PMF Protected Management Frames

QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

QoS Quality of Service

RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service

RAN Radio Access Network

RAT Radio Access Technology

RF Radio Frequency

SaaS Software as a Service

SAE Simultaneous Authentication of Equals

SAML Security Assertion Markup Language

SaMOG S2a- and S2b-Based Mobility Over GTP

SIG Special Interest Group

SIM Subscriber Identity Module

SSID Service Set Identifier

TCP Transmission Control Protocol

UE User Equipment

URLL Ultra-Reliable Low Latency

URLLC Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications

VLAN Virtual Local Access Networks

VNI Virtual Networking Index

VR Virtual Reality

WBA Wireless Broadband Alliance




WGC Wireless Global Congress

WISPr Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming

WISPs Wireless Internet Service Providers

WPA Wi-Fi Protected Access

WPA2 Wi-Fi Protected Access 2

WPA3 Wi-Fi Protected Access 3

WRIX-f WRIX Financial Settlement

WRIX-d WRIX Data Clearing

WRIX-i WRIX Interconnect

WRIX-l WRIX Location




APPENDIX

Next Year in Wi-Fi and Convergence at the WBA: Activities and Focus Areas

Next Generation Wi-Fi

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): enhanced Wi-Fi deployment guidelines, requirements and trials

• FWA mmW Wi-Fi: 60GHz, 802.11ad/ay

• RF sensing and location-based services

• Connected Wi-Fi Car: access network selection, best-practice Wi-Fi security

• Edge computing and networks slicing to manage Wi-Fi traffic

Carrier Wi-Fi Services

• Further expansion of NGH deployments, WRIX, RadSec, federations

• Harmonized Wi-Fi architecture for Wi-Fi Calling

• Enhanced network discovery and association, and device onboarding with NGH

• In-flight connectivity global trial

• Captive portal network standards for Wi-Fi

5G and RAN Convergence

• Unlicensed integration with 5G networks

• Wi-Fi and 5G integration in the access network and in the core

• Multi-access edge computing

• Multi-path technologies: guidelines, trials

IoT and Connected Cities

• IoT Wi-Fi dynamic roaming

• IoT and LoRa integration

• Expansion of NGH, WRIX, and Passpoint to include IoT devices and services

• Smart cities IoT deployments, use cases and business model

In-Home Connectivity

• Support for new smart-home IoT use cases

• Mesh Wi-Fi home networks

• Development of best practices and guidelines for in-home Wi-Fi multi-AP networks

Industry Engagement and Cross-Functional Areas

• Collaboration with NGMN, GSMA, Broadband Forum, 3GPP, Wi-Fi Alliance and IEEE on

standardization, industry best practices and guidelines, convergence, and spectrum allocation

• Decentralized Wi-Fi networks with blockchain

• Security and privacy over wireless networks and fraud




Wi-Fi 6: New Features

See “Enhanced Wi-Fi – 802.11ax Decoded: Overview, Features, Use Cases and 5G Context” for a

more comprehensive overview of 802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6. [22]. The tables below are excerpted from the

WBA white paper.

Feature Description Business Advantage/Impact

OFDMA Uplink and Downlink

Increases efficiency and reduces latency as several devices can communicate concurrently, with spectrum resource allocated proportional to needs.

Improves Wi-Fi performance, particularly in high density, high throughput environments (such as stadiums and auditoriums).

Transmission Scheduling

Scheduling allows transmissions to be orchestrated, users are scheduled so that data requests on the uplink do not clash with each other.

Better resource utilization and increased efficiency (latency). Service level assurances can be supported over the 802.11ax infrastructure.

Multi-User MIMO Uplink and Downlink

Increase channel capacity when servicing multiple simultaneous devices (up to 8x8). Multi-User uplink added to improve real-time traffic performance.

Serves up to 8 users simultaneously for a significant capacity boost. Addresses use cases from enterprise networks, large public venues and multi-dwelling buildings.

Peak Speeds Faster modulation schemes up to 1024 QAM allows peak gigabit speeds (up to 4x-6x faster than 11ac).

Support new use cases such as UHD Video, AR/VR, and Next-gen e-Classrooms.

Flexible Channel Sizes and

Resource Units

Channel sizes are chosen based on different applications (20/40/80/160MHz). 20 MHz channels may be further broken down into smaller 2MHz resource units.

More efficient IoT support (when lower data rates are required), allowing devices to use less power, or support greater coverage ranges.

Target Wake Time

Orchestrate specific times when clients wake from sleep to reduce access contention.

IoT low power (constrained) use cases are effectively addressed by significantly improving device battery life.

Spatial Reuse / Color Codes

Differentiates transmissions from neighboring networks. Allows APs to more efficiently share channel capacity.

Collision between signals from nearby networks are mitigated. Useful for venues such as retail malls, multi-dwelling units, etc.

Dual Band Frequencies

Support both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz – now standardized and works across both bands in a unified way.

All previous Wi-Fi generations are compatible and spectrum usage possibilities expand.

Increased Guard Interval and Cyclic Prefix

Increase intervals up to 3.2 us and longer cyclic prefix reduces inter-symbol interference.

Improves outdoor deployments, specifically enhances range/ performance.

New Mid-amble Mid-amble used to improve performance in

presence of Doppler.

Improves outdoor deployments, specifically enhances performance in moving environments.

New Frequency Ranges

802.11ax supported frequency ranges have been extended to include the 6 GHz band.

Enabling new swathes of spectrum to be leveraged for delivering improved performance.





Newly introduced 802.11ax features Improved 802.11ax features

compared to 11ac

Target Wake Time

OFDMA Uplink and Downlink

Transmission Scheduling (Service Provider

Point of View)

Multi-User MIMO Uplink

Spatial Re-Use/Color Codes

Dual Band Frequencies (Standardized)

Improved Outdoor Performance

Support of New Frequency Ranges (6 GHz)

Multi-User MIMO Downlink

Flexible Channel Sizes

Peak Speeds

Transmit Beamforming

The Building Blocks of Wi-Fi Roaming

Passpoint

Launched in 2012, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint is the certification program developed and managed

by the Wi-Fi Alliance for devices and APs that ensures that devices connect seamlessly and securely

to public hotspots. For Passpoint to work, both the device and the hotspot have to be certified, and a

roaming agreement from the home service provider and the visited Wi-Fi provider has to be in place.

Hotspot 2.0

Hotspot 2.0 is the Wi-Fi Alliance specification that defines the technology used by Passpoint for

network discovery and selection, seamless network access with EAP-based SIM and non-SIM user

credentials.

Next Generation Hotspot (NGH)

NGH is a program that WBA’s specifications and guidelines for Wi-Fi providers and service operators

that leverage Hotspot 2.0 and that make the Wi-Fi user experience in hotspots as easy, seamless and

secure as the cellular experience. As part of NGH, the WBA manages the Carrier Wireless Services

Certification (CWSC) to ensure a consistent end-to-end service operation and user experience across

the Wi-Fi roaming ecosystem.

Wireless Roaming Intermediary eXchange (WRIX)

WRIX is a set of specifications developed by the WBA that facilitates the commercial roaming

between operators, with an optional intermediary WRIX hub and clearinghouse. It includes WRIX




Interconnect (WRIX-i), WRIX Location (WRIX-l), WRIX Data Clearing (WRIX-d) and WRIX Financial

Settlement (WRIX-f) to enable roaming parties to reliably exchange information to facilitate roaming

functionality, but also to be able to support new services and applications (e.g. location-based

services or marketing initiatives).

Interoperability Compliancy Program (ICP)

This WBA program provides operators with a common technical and commercial framework for Wi-Fi

Roaming by utilizing the best practices as defined by the WBA’s WRIX guidelines.

ICP defines the requirements for roaming and settlement, from basic connectivity to more advanced

models to facilitate the implementation and deployment of Wi-Fi roaming. Categories include

interconnect requirements, authentication methods, bandwidth requirements, network discovery and

selection features, security, as well as NHG and WRIX parameters.

Next Generation Hotspot Milestones

The WBA captured NGH achievements in an infographic, summarized below.

2010

• Cisco forms NGH SIG and authors the initial Hotspot 2.0 specification. This specification later becomes part of the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Hotspot 2.0 certification program and branded as Passpoint.

• Cisco works with Samsung to launch the first NGH-enabled handset.

2011

• WBA teams up with Wi-Fi Alliance to harmonize NGH specifications.

• WBA member companies launch NGH trials.

• WBA and GSMA work on joint initiative to develop technical and commercial frameworks for Wi-Fi roaming.

2012

• Major global telecom operators successfully complete NGH trials.

• Accuris enables its first mobile operator to deliver NGH services to its subscribers.

• Mobily launches the first next-gen Wi-Fi network in the Middle East and introduces SIM authentication for its customers.

2013

• US pioneers massive NGH commercial rollout as it is deployed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport by WBA member company Boingo Wireless.

2014

• Boingo Wireless expands NGH footprint and launches technology at 21 US airports. Company grows NGH to be available at more than 150,000 hotspot locations around the world.

https://www.wballiance.com/ngh-achievements/




• Global Reach Technology and Ruckus Wireless work with the cities of San Francisco and San Jose to launch the first large-scale municipal NGH-Hotspot 2.0 service.

2015

• Cisco, WBA and GSMA deploy NGH at Mobile World Congress for subscribers of over 30 networks, including AT&T, Boingo, BT, China Mobile, Fon, KT, Orange, Portugal Telecom, SK Telecom, Telstra and TELUS, together with Cisco, BSG Wireless, Accuris.

• WBA launches the Connected City Advisory Board.

2016

• WBA launches City Wi-Fi Roaming project to accelerate affordable wireless connectivity around the world.

• NGH returns to Mobile World Congress, deployed by WBA members companies.

• Since 2016, the Global Reach NGH Hotspot 2.0 service has been used to connect LinkNYC users, and to manage and analyze the municipal service.

2017

• WBA calls for standardization of QoS for Carrier Wi-Fi.

• Cisco, Boingo Wireless, GSMA, WBA launch record-setting NGH deployment at the inaugural Mobile World Congress Americas event with US carriers leading the way. More than 60% of attendees’ Wi-Fi connections are automatically authenticated through NGH. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile subscribers are among the customers that connect via NGH.

• Accuris’ NGH Platform handles >1B NGH authentications for a North American mobile operator.

• WBA standardizing provisioning on NGH networks helps to improve customer experience and foster further adoption.

• Mobily’s next-gen Wi-Fi network in the Middle East reaches 10,000 AP and carries more than 20 TB per day.

2018

• WBA brings NGH deployment to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Fira Barcelona, Barcelona-EI Prat Airport and hotspots throughout the city benefit from seamless Wi-Fi connectivity via NGH. WBA calls for global adoption to realize 5G-like use cases, smart cities and beyond.

For other publications please visit:

wballiance.com/resources/wba-white-papers

To participate in future projects, please contact:

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