Smart launches live roaming transactions

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications has successfully performed the first live roaming transaction using the latest WiFi technologies for the deployment of Next Generation Hotspots (NGH).

This marks a key milestone in the NGH trial announced in June by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA,) the operator-led organization driving next generation WiFi experience.

The trial involves end-to-end inter-operator testing of NGH roaming and authentication requirements.

NGH bring the automatic log-in procedures that are familiar in cellular networks to WiFi for the first time. By eliminating the need for users and devices to sign into a service provider’s WiFi service, NGH makes connecting to the Internet seamless — much like when a mobile phone automatically connects from cellsite to cellsite.

According to Cisco, one of the proponents of NGH, the new wireless technology helps to ensure a superior user experience with secure and seamless authentication and roaming.

During the NGH trial facilitated by WBA, mobile phones equipped with Smart SIM cards were able to connect instantly to the Orange WiFi of France Telecom without the need to manually join the network.

“This opens up a lot of possibilities not only for Smart and Orange subscribers, but for the billions of mobile users in the world. With the right business model and proper deployment, we would be able to make the NGH yet another means of bringing the power of the Internet into the hands of every Filipino,” Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea said.

Meanwhile, WBA chairman Chris Bruce explained that the NGH trials are running globally among their member companies. “The end goal is to simplify our customers’ WiFi experience. This announcement marks exciting progress towards that goal.”

For his part, WBA co-chairman and Orange WiFi director Cédric Gonin noted this trial success is the first milestone, confirming the availability of the technical enablers to make WiFi as easy to use as mobile especially when roaming

“The NGH trials are scheduled to complete early next year and Smart plans to deploy NGH services in mid-2012.,” he revealed.

Founded in 2003, the WBA is an operator-led industry organization focused on driving the next generation WiFi experience through technology innovation, interoperability and robust security. Today, membership includes major fixed operators such as BT, NTT Communications, Comcast and Time Warner Cable; seven of the top 10 mobile operator groups (by revenue) and leading technology companies such as Cisco, Google and Intel. These members serve over 390 million customers and have rolled out over 290,000 hotspots worldwide. They also work with international operators to drive innovation, deliver seamless connectivity and optimize network investments.

France Telecom is one of-the world’s leading telecommunications operators with 170,000 employees worldwide, including 102,000 employees in France, and sales of 33.8 billion euros in the first nine months of 2011.

Present in 35 countries, the group had a customer base of 221 million customers, including 145 million customers under the Orange brand, the group’s single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates.

Orange is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.