Telecom Operators Forge Ahead With Global WiFi Roaming Plans

Wireless technology is rapidly gaining ground, courtesy of next G(generation) technologies and upgraded connectivity such as WiFi. Hence, to keep up with the radically higher demand for wireless connection, 23 telecom operators have decided to offer free international public WiFi roaming facilities in several cities around the world.

The New WiFi Roaming Plan

Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), an industry association which promotes interoperability among WiFi operators, recently introduced the City WiFi Roaming Project in association with telecom operators from around the globe. The project has been started by rolling out integrated public WiFi roaming in New York, Barcelona, Dublin, Singapore, San Francisco and San Jose. The scheme enables consumers and visitors to the aforementioned cities easily avail roaming services via WiFi networks throughout the month of Aug, 2016.

As per WBA, the new scheme is based on the Next Generation Hotspot 2.0 specifications, a certification program which aims to deliver enhanced connectivity for mobile devices on WiFi hotspots. The new Hotspot 2.0 (also known as Passpoint) is an improved version which will provide a more streamlined method for the creation of new user accounts and connection of WiFi-enabled devices to public WiFi hotspots.

To date, this WiFi Roaming Plan has seen partnerships among some of the world’s telecom biggies -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) , BT Group plc (NYSE:T) , China Mobile Ltd. (NYSE:CHL) , KT, NTT DoCoMo Inc. (NYSE:DCM) , Orange, HKT, SK Telecom Co. Ltd. (NYSE:S) , Sprint Corp. (NYSE:S) , Swisscom, Telecom New Zealand, Telstra, TELUS Corporation (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile Inc. USA (NYSE:T) .

Advantages of WiFi Connections

Through the new plan, WiFi subscribers from various operators can access seamless wireless Internet services in select cities across the world. The roaming alliance is San Francisco’s efforts to help its citizens connect to WiFi wherever they are traveling across the globe. New York has followed suit, ensuring stronger Internet connectivity and better prospects for the City WiFi Roaming project. It is expected that more cities will soon join the bandwagon.

The Bottom Line

This initiative focuses on the importance of WiFi and lays more emphasis on stronger connections. Such plans also serve as a revenue boost for telecom operators.