The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has unveiled WBA OpenRoaming, a global Wi-Fi federation, to which the Alliance has invited Wi-Fi ecosystem members. The federation will provide secure automatic connection for billions of devices to millions of Wi-Fi networks. COVID-19 is changing how people work and even after the virus passes the working world will never be the same. The WBA hopes to provide a seamless experience through collaboration with all the wireless ecosystem actors. OpenRoaming is expected to make Wi-Fi simpler akin to cellular roaming so end-users will be able to join any Wi-Fi network that a federation member manages.

The framework and standards feature cloud federation comprised of a global networks and identities database, dynamic discovery and the Wireless Roaming Intermediary Exchange (WRIX). Public key infrastructure and RadSec provide the Cybersecurity infrastructure and network automation is enabled by an automated roaming consortium framework and policy and Wi-Fi certified passpoint. WBA believes this framework can enable enterprises to develop novel business models and innovative services across industries.