Wi-Fi Public Access Requirements for Wireless Products & Technologies Public Access Provider Perspective Phil Belanger

Agenda What is it? WISP Business Model Technical requirements Business requirements Summary

WISP Wireless Internet Service Providers Provide access to the internet in public places Provide access to the internet in public places High Speed Local wireless connectivity Using Wi-Fi (IEEE b) Using Wi-Fi (IEEE b) Wi-Fi5 (IEEE a) coming soon Wi-Fi5 (IEEE a) coming soon High Speed - 11 Mbps locally High Speed - 11 Mbps locally T1 backhaul Local – within 100 meters of access points Local – within 100 meters of access points In well traveled areas Airports, hotels, convention centers Airports, hotels, convention centers Coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores Coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores

Wireless LAN Infrastructure Internet

Sample Airport Content

Business Model for WISPs

Old Model Service provider installs and owns infrastructure Takes all of the risk Takes all of the risk In some cases pays a bounty for the privilege In some cases pays a bounty for the privilege Service provider promotes the service Service provider charges per use fee Revenue is split with venue owner Venue gets a fee per transaction Venue gets a fee per transaction Usually with a monthly minimum guarantee Usually with a monthly minimum guaranteeResult Service providers fail… Service providers fail… Aerzone, Mobilestar Roaming very difficult Roaming very difficult

Payment Options Pay by the minute Why? #^%&)!(*!!, dial up mentality… Why? #^%&)!(*!!, dial up mentality… Pay per connect All you can eat for a block of time All you can eat for a block of time 8 hours, 24 hours… Always on connection Always on connection Pay per megabyte Not widely used.. Not widely used.. Transaction based Charged to hotel bill Charged to hotel bill Credit card Credit card Free FreeMembership/Subscription Toll Tag Toll Tag Unlimited Monthly Unlimited Monthly Corporate Plans Corporate Plans Unlimited, spread across a number of employees Add on service for cellular user or residential broadband user Add on service for cellular user or residential broadband user

New Model Venue shares in the risk Demonstrated value of high speed internet access Demonstrated value of high speed internet access Venue pays for all or part of infrastructure Service provider manages network Installation and customer support Installation and customer support Enables other service providers and roaming Enables other service providers and roaming Venue and service provider split transaction fees Other revenue opportunities Other revenue opportunities Meetings and events Service provider keeps all membership or subscription fees Enables multi level roaming Enables multi level roaming

Technical Requirements InteroperabilitySecurity Multiple Service Provider Infrastructure Transition to 5 GHz

Interoperability Without a real standard this industry would not survive. WISPs put up an infrastructure based on WLAN products from one vendor. Users can access the network with client devices from a variety of vendors. IEEE and Wi-Fi have made a big difference.

Security WEP within IEEE is broken. But it will be fixed. TKIP and IEEE i TKIP and IEEE i Still need a way to use it public venues No multi-vendor key distribution No multi-vendor key distribution Enter IEEE 802.1x Used for authentication and key distribution Used for authentication and key distribution Multi-vendor key distribution now possible Multi-vendor key distribution now possible But not all clients support Public infrastructure should support a mix of clients Public infrastructure should support a mix of clients Secure, 802.1x capable and unsecure Can map to different VLANs

Multiple Service Providers Landscape is getting complicated Multiple players want access to venues Multiple players want access to venues Need a common WLAN Infrastructure Supports clients with different SSIDs Supports clients with different SSIDs Integrated with other WLAN applications Integrated with other WLAN applications Retail, baggage handling etc. Single WLAN installation per venue Single WLAN installation per venue No RF channel conflicts No RF channel conflicts Multiple Servers and internet pipes For each service provider For each service provider For billing, authentication and other services For billing, authentication and other services

Internet Multiple Service Provider Infrastructure

More Detail

5 GHz Transition Wi-Fi5 (IEEE a) 54 Mbps, OFDM 54 Mbps, OFDM Lots of activity Many client devices coming soon. Many client devices coming soon. Smooth transition – no coexistence issues Service providers upgrade existing infrastructure This is not the expensive part! This is not the expensive part! 2.4 GHz infrastructure will remain 2.4 GHz infrastructure will remain

Business Issues Roaming Billing, authentication Billing, authentication User Awareness Venue Participation

WISP Roaming Roaming from what to what? Need to roam from WISP to WISP Need to roam from WISP to WISP Also need to roam from WISP to wide area wireless data services Also need to roam from WISP to wide area wireless data services GPRS, W CDMA, 3G, etc. GPRS, W CDMA, 3G, etc. Many issues to work out Need technical enhancements described Need technical enhancements described Agreement on billing, authentication, roaming charges Agreement on billing, authentication, roaming charges

User Awareness VISA is a good model A brand that says: “Your WISP service works here.” A brand that says: “Your WISP service works here.” Separate entity manages and promotes brand Separate entity manages and promotes brand Participating entities are the WISPs Who is the managing entity? WECA? Probably not. WECA? Probably not. Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi5 are Certification marks Need a Service mark. Need a Service mark.

Summary Still early days for the WISP industry. Limited but growing footprint Limited but growing footprint Companies are finding their niche Companies are finding their niche Aggregators, infrastructure providers, clearinghouses etc. Bigger players entering the market Bigger players entering the market Need some technical enhancements for APs 802.1x support 802.1x support But also support legacy clients Multiple service providers Multiple service providers VLANs VLANs Roaming is being developed behind the scenes…

The End. Phil Belanger Phil Belanger PB Ventures Limited PB Ventures Limited