Wi-Fi Public AccessWi-Fi Public AccessRequirements for Wireless Products Requirements for Wireless Products

& Technologies& Technologies

Public Access Provider Perspective Public Access Provider Perspective

Phil BelangerPhil Belanger

AgendaAgenda

What is it?What is it?

WISP Business ModelWISP Business Model

Technical requirementsTechnical requirements

Business requirementsBusiness requirements

SummarySummary

WISPWISP

Wireless Internet Service ProvidersWireless Internet Service Providers Provide access to the internet in public placesProvide access to the internet in public places

High Speed Local wireless connectivityHigh Speed Local wireless connectivity Using Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b)Using Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b)

Wi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11a) coming soonWi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11a) coming soon High Speed - 11 Mbps locallyHigh Speed - 11 Mbps locally

T1 backhaulT1 backhaul Local – within 100 meters of access pointsLocal – within 100 meters of access points

In well traveled areasIn well traveled areas Airports, hotels, convention centersAirports, hotels, convention centers Coffee shops, restaurants, bookstoresCoffee shops, restaurants, bookstores

Wireless LAN InfrastructureWireless LAN Infrastructure

Internet

Sample Airport ContentSample Airport Content

Business Model for WISPsBusiness Model for WISPs

Old ModelOld ModelService provider installs and owns infrastructureService provider installs and owns infrastructure Takes all of the riskTakes all of the risk In some cases pays a bounty for the privilegeIn some cases pays a bounty for the privilege

Service provider promotes the serviceService provider promotes the service

Service provider charges per use feeService provider charges per use fee

Revenue is split with venue ownerRevenue is split with venue owner Venue gets a fee per transactionVenue gets a fee per transaction Usually with a monthly minimum guaranteeUsually with a monthly minimum guarantee

ResultResult Service providers fail…Service providers fail…

Aerzone, MobilestarAerzone, Mobilestar Roaming very difficultRoaming very difficult

Payment OptionsPayment OptionsPay by the minutePay by the minute

Why? #^%&)!(*!!, dial up mentality…Why? #^%&)!(*!!, dial up mentality…Pay per connectPay per connect

All you can eat for a block of timeAll you can eat for a block of time8 hours, 24 hours…8 hours, 24 hours…

Always on connectionAlways on connectionPay per megabytePay per megabyte

Not widely used..Not widely used..Transaction basedTransaction based

Charged to hotel billCharged to hotel bill Credit cardCredit card FreeFree

Membership/SubscriptionMembership/Subscription Toll TagToll Tag Unlimited MonthlyUnlimited Monthly Corporate PlansCorporate Plans

Unlimited, spread across a number of employeesUnlimited, spread across a number of employees Add on service for cellular user or residential broadband userAdd on service for cellular user or residential broadband user

New ModelNew ModelVenue shares in the riskVenue shares in the risk Demonstrated value of high speed internet accessDemonstrated value of high speed internet access

Venue pays for all or part of infrastructureVenue pays for all or part of infrastructureService provider manages networkService provider manages network Installation and customer supportInstallation and customer support Enables other service providers and roamingEnables other service providers and roaming

Venue and service provider split transaction feesVenue and service provider split transaction fees Other revenue opportunitiesOther revenue opportunities

Meetings and eventsMeetings and events

Service provider keeps all membership or Service provider keeps all membership or subscription feessubscription fees Enables multi level roaming Enables multi level roaming

Technical RequirementsTechnical Requirements

InteroperabilityInteroperability

SecuritySecurity

Multiple Service Provider InfrastructureMultiple Service Provider Infrastructure

Transition to 5 GHzTransition to 5 GHz

InteroperabilityInteroperability

Without a real standard this industry would Without a real standard this industry would not survive.not survive.

WISPs put up an infrastructure based on WISPs put up an infrastructure based on WLAN products from one vendor.WLAN products from one vendor.

Users can access the network with client Users can access the network with client devices from a variety of vendors.devices from a variety of vendors.

IEEE 802.11 and Wi-Fi have made a big IEEE 802.11 and Wi-Fi have made a big difference.difference.

SecuritySecurity

WEP within IEEE 802.11 is broken.WEP within IEEE 802.11 is broken.But it will be fixed.But it will be fixed.

TKIP and IEEE 802.11iTKIP and IEEE 802.11i

Still need a way to use it public venuesStill need a way to use it public venues No multi-vendor key distributionNo multi-vendor key distribution

Enter IEEE 802.1xEnter IEEE 802.1x Used for authentication Used for authentication andand key distribution key distribution Multi-vendor key distribution now possibleMulti-vendor key distribution now possible

But not all clients supportBut not all clients support Public infrastructure should support a mix of clientsPublic infrastructure should support a mix of clients

Secure, 802.1x capable and unsecureSecure, 802.1x capable and unsecureCan map to different VLANsCan map to different VLANs

Multiple Service ProvidersMultiple Service Providers

Landscape is getting complicatedLandscape is getting complicated Multiple players want access to venuesMultiple players want access to venues

Need a common WLAN InfrastructureNeed a common WLAN Infrastructure Supports clients with different SSIDsSupports clients with different SSIDs Integrated with other WLAN applicationsIntegrated with other WLAN applications

Retail, baggage handling etc.Retail, baggage handling etc. Single WLAN installation per venueSingle WLAN installation per venue No RF channel conflictsNo RF channel conflicts

Multiple Servers and internet pipesMultiple Servers and internet pipes For each service providerFor each service provider For billing, authentication and other servicesFor billing, authentication and other services

Internet

Internet

Multiple Service Provider Multiple Service Provider InfrastructureInfrastructure

More DetailMore Detail

5 GHz Transition5 GHz Transition

Wi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11a)Wi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11a) 54 Mbps, OFDM54 Mbps, OFDM

Lots of activityLots of activity Many client devices coming soon.Many client devices coming soon.

Smooth transition – no coexistence issuesSmooth transition – no coexistence issuesService providers upgrade existing infrastructureService providers upgrade existing infrastructure This is not the expensive part!This is not the expensive part! 2.4 GHz infrastructure will remain2.4 GHz infrastructure will remain

Business IssuesBusiness Issues

RoamingRoaming Billing, authenticationBilling, authentication

User AwarenessUser Awareness

Venue ParticipationVenue Participation

WISP RoamingWISP Roaming

Roaming from what to what?Roaming from what to what? Need to roam from WISP to WISPNeed to roam from WISP to WISP Also need to roam from WISP to wide area Also need to roam from WISP to wide area

wireless data serviceswireless data services GPRS, W CDMA, 3G, etc.GPRS, W CDMA, 3G, etc.

Many issues to work outMany issues to work out Need technical enhancements describedNeed technical enhancements described Agreement on billing, authentication, roaming Agreement on billing, authentication, roaming

chargescharges

User AwarenessUser Awareness

VISA is a good modelVISA is a good model A brand that says: “Your WISP service works A brand that says: “Your WISP service works

here.”here.” Separate entity manages and promotes brandSeparate entity manages and promotes brand

Participating entities are the WISPsParticipating entities are the WISPs

Who is the managing entity?Who is the managing entity? WECA? Probably not.WECA? Probably not.

Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi5 are Certification marksWi-Fi and Wi-Fi5 are Certification marks Need a Service mark.Need a Service mark.

SummarySummary

Still early days for the WISP industry.Still early days for the WISP industry. Limited but growing footprintLimited but growing footprint Companies are finding their nicheCompanies are finding their niche

Aggregators, infrastructure providers, clearinghouses etc.Aggregators, infrastructure providers, clearinghouses etc. Bigger players entering the marketBigger players entering the market

Need some technical enhancements for APsNeed some technical enhancements for APs 802.1x support802.1x support

But also support legacy clientsBut also support legacy clients Multiple service providersMultiple service providers VLANsVLANs

Roaming is being developed behind the scenes… Roaming is being developed behind the scenes…

The End.The End.

Phil BelangerPhil Belanger PB Ventures LimitedPB Ventures Limited philbelanger@earthlink.netphilbelanger@earthlink.net