WBA report tackles moving networks

  • October 30, 2024
  • Steve Rogerson

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) says moving networks, such as on buses, trains, planes and ships, have often been neglected, but says the latest wifi standards can help.

The industry body has published its “Wi-Fi Experience for Moving Networks Report”, which demonstrates how the latest wifi standards can enhance moving networks.

The WBA aims to enhance wifi connectivity in moving scenarios – buses, trains, planes and ships – ensuring reliability for daily commutes and travel. The WBA is also inviting members and industry stakeholders to join its moving network trials to provide a testing environment or gain a competitive edge by applying the latest technology when deploying a moving network.

The report outlines problems in dynamic wifi networks and describes use cases that demonstrate how current standards, although not specifically designed for moving networks, can be adapted to improve user experiences and operational efficiency.

The report offers industry stakeholders benefits by helping them enhance passenger experience and service reliability, reducing operational costs, and opening revenue opportunities. High-quality wifi services can attract more customers, increase engagement and provide a competitive edge. Improved security protocols protect user data, while standardised practices foster industry collaboration.

Deploying technologies such as WBA OpenRoaming can address many of the challenges experienced by users when joining and hopping between moving networks. OpenRoaming facilitates seamless connectivity between various wifi and cellular networks via a credential, ensuring automatic authentication and high levels of security and data privacy.

This project led by GlobalReach and Viasat, and supported by CableLabs, Cityroam, General Motors, HPE Aruba Networks and other WBA members, has tackled the technical and logistical difficulties of moving networks. Proposals include:

  • Dynamic environments: Addressing inconsistent backhaul connectivity with standards such as Passpoint for seamless connections and combining multiple connectivity sources for enhanced stability.
  • Handover issues: Ensuring continuous service and preventing unnecessary network switching with intelligent network selection and enhanced roaming capabilities.
  • Security concerns: Bolstering network security through robust authentication methods such as WPA2 and WPA3 Enterprise, and per-user encryption to protect data in transient environments.
  • Service continuity: Maintaining uninterrupted service with strategies such as local caching and authentication to ensure connectivity without backhaul access.
  • Complex deployments: Simplifying the installation and maintenance of network equipment on moving vehicles with modular components and remote management tools.

“The challenges of delivering reliable and secure wifi on moving networks are greater than fixed networks,” said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the WBA (wballiance.com). “This paper demonstrates how existing wifi standards can enhance these networks, engage more users and revolutionise the experience. Our vision is to create a seamless and interoperable service experience of wifi across the wireless ecosystem, that spans both fixed and moving networks.”

Thomas Locke, chief technology officer at GlobalReach (globalreachtech.com), added: “With the market adoption of technologies like Passpoint, users are now increasingly connecting seamlessly and securely onto shared public wifi networks. This can be challenging for non-fixed networks which are commonly found in aviation and maritime. This report outlines the unique challenges for dynamic wifi networks and demonstrates how current wifi standards can be adapted to improve the user experience and increase operational efficiency.”

And Ed Kyte from Viasat (www.viasat.com) said:“As wifi becomes progressively mobile and proliferates into new areas, solving problems that exist in moving networks is increasingly central to further develop high quality and seamless experiences. This paper continues the WBA’s focus in this important area, utilising the latest tried-and-tested wifi standards to enhance the user experience.”

The WBA is inviting its members and industry stakeholders, including infrastructure providers, mobile device manufacturers, airlines, train and bus operators, cruise lines, civil transport providers, automotive OEMs, identity providers, ecosystem brokers, and hub providers, to join trials aimed at addressing wifi difficulties in moving networks and exploring next-generation technologies.

The report can be downloaded at wballiance.com/wi-fi-experience-for-moving-network.