Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint® is an industry-wide certification program that streamlines secure network access to hotspots, eliminating the need for users to manually find and authenticate to a network each time they connect. Wi-Fi® networks that do not support Passpoint® require users to choose a network, request access, and re-enter their credentials each time. Passpoint automates the process, providing a more seamless and secure connection between Wi-Fi networks and mobile devices.
Passpoint has continued to gain momentum around the world, adopted by device vendors and service providers alike to help improve the mobile experience. Passpoint is enabled in a majority of mobile devices, and has been deployed in locations such as Trafalgar Square in London, Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, as well as in highly trafficked areas of Barcelona, Spain.
Passpoint is quickly becoming a technology relied on by service providers to automate secure roaming between cellular and Wi-Fi and enable users to talk, text and stream over Wi-Fi. Passpoint will continue to facilitate carrier offloading to Wi-Fi, alleviating pressure on cellular networks and helping carriers accommodate rising mobile data traffic as 5G networks are deployed. Demand for Passpoint as an essential technology continues to increase as a means to enable a more seamless and secure user experience for mobile customers.
Below are some examples of recently introduced Passpoint enabled initiatives:
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company introduces Air Pass, powered by Passpoint
Aruba Air Pass, a global Passpoint-based roaming service, is designed to unify enterprise and mobile experiences. Aruba Air Pass harnesses the power of Passpoint to authenticate users securely and efficiently on enterprise networks, accessing cellular SIM credentials for automated onboarding, with no captive portals, usernames, or passwords required. Aruba Air Pass is helping bring the telecom 5G experience indoors, using Wi-Fi to extend 5G into enterprise environments.
Boingo Wireless increases Passpoint footprint
Boingo has long been a champion of Passpoint technology, notably implementing the first Passpoint-enabled airport Wi-Fi network in September 2013. Expanding its Wi-Fi offerings over the years, Boingo recently launched a Passpoint-enabled Wi-Fi network at Heathrow International Airport in London. Boingo also extended its partnership with service providers, offering AT&T and Sprint subscribers automated secure roaming between cellular and Boingo Wi-Fi networks.
exands deploys Passpoint networks in China
The China-based service provider, exands, announced the deployment of their first Passpoint network. exands is the largest network infrastructure operator in China, serving hundreds of international chain companies like Starbucks and Haagen-Dazs. The company recently deployed a Passpoint enabled network operating at 13,000 locations in China, including chain restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and shopping malls.
OpenRoaming
The Wireless Broadband Alliance recently announced it would assume management of OpenRoaming, a roaming standard developed by Cisco and based on Passpoint. OpenRoaming bridges the gap between Wi-Fi and cellular networks and allows users to roam between participating Wi-Fi networks seamlessly and securely without the use of splash pages or sign-in screens. OpenRoaming will help further facilitate broad adoption of Passpoint by new and existing Wi-Fi Networks and service providers, as well as other technology partners across the global Wi-Fi ecosystem.
OPPO releases Passpoint-enabled smartphone in China
The China-based handset maker, OPPO, announced Passpoint support in its new Find X2 smartphones. This marks the first local brand smart phone bringing powerful Passpoint functionality to the China market. The Passpoint-enabled Find X2 smartphone can automatically discover and select public networks supporting Passpoint, improving the Wi-Fi experience for users in managed Wi-Fi networks in China.
Wi-Fi Alliance continues to support Passpoint adoption among service providers, device manufacturers, and organizations around the world. We look forward to new deployments in airports and stadiums, and are excited about new and emerging services leveraging Passpoint that will redefine connectivity experiences.
The statements and opinions by each Wi-Fi Alliance member and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Wi-Fi Alliance or any other member. Wi-Fi Alliance is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information provided by any member in posting to or commenting on this blog. Concerns should be directed to info@wi-fi.org.
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