Ruckus Wireless Supports New Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Release 2 Specification for Next Generation Hotspots

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- (WBA WI-FI GLOBAL CONGRESS) – Ruckus Wireless, Inc. RKUS announced today at the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) Wi-Fi Global Congress being held here, that the Ruckus Hotspot 2.0 Online SignUp, Policy, and Subscription Management Server will be part of the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) Hotspot 2.0 Release 2 certification testbed. Additionally, several Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi products, including the Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 7372 access point (AP) and the Ruckus SmartCell™ Gateway (SCG) 200 are now Wi-Fi CERTIFIED for Passpoint™ Release 2.

Hotspot 2.0 is revolutionizing the process of connecting to a Wi-Fi network while roaming on a mobile device by making the connection experience as automatic and secure as the cellular experience.  This enables the countless islands of Wi-Fi connectivity that exist all around us to be woven together into one seamless and ubiquitous service offering.  The larger this web of connectivity becomes, the greater the utility of the network.  In addition to a totally automatic connection experience, all user traffic over the airlink is encrypted—a huge plus in today's security conscious world.

Ruckus is a major force in the promotion and adoption of Hotspot 2.0, with Passpoint products that support Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) Wi-Fi deployments around the world. Next Generation Hotspots are becoming increasingly mainstream, with more and more multiple-system operators (MSOs), mobile network operators (MNOs), public venues, municipalities, and fixed line operators looking to adopt and incorporate the technology into their networks. In fact, more than 20 service providers are participating in a live 'NGH experience' during the Wi-Fi Global Congress in San Francisco, including: AT&T, Boingo, BT, China Mobile, FON, KT, Linktel Corp, Meteor Networks, Mobily, NEC Biglobe, NTT DOCOMO, Orange, PCCW, Portugal Telecom, SKT, Shaw Communications, Telkom Indonesia, Towerstream, and TRUE Thailand.

Causing a Ruckus with Hotspot 2.0 Release 2

As part of the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Release 2 testbed, Ruckus Wireless Hotspot 2.0 Online SignUp, Policy, and Subscription Management Server technology is an essential part of the Release 2 offering. Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology provides a mechanism by which a user can get a credential downloaded to their wireless device that will allow them to automatically and securely connect to available Wi-Fi networks while on the move.  In some cases, a credential might already exist on a mobile device such as a SIM card on a smartphone, but in other cases a credential must be downloaded, which is covered in Release 2.  This is a major step forward in further increasing the utility of a Wi-Fi offering by greatly simplifying the user experience.  It also opens up opportunities for service providers that don't use SIM cards for authentication, and it enables other mobile devices like tablets and laptops to also get easily and securely connected while on the move. Additionally, Release 2 introduces Policy and Subscription management features that allow operators to offer various types of Wi-Fi services (e.g., PayGo, vouchered access, etc.) and have some control over how their credentials are used to connect.

Ruckus is also providing the NGH network for the WBA Wi-Fi Global Congress being held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.  NGH is the WBA program that is tasked with commercializing Hotspot 2.0 technology.  The Ruckus-powered Wi-Fi network for the 'NGH Live Experience' at the Congress consists of equipment that carries the WFA Passpoint designation.  This network is also able to roam with the Ruckus Hotspot 2.0 networks that were recently deployed by the City and County of San Francisco and the City of San Jose, CA, as well as the San Francisco network operated by TowerStream.  This is a first for an NGH demonstration network, as it allows seamless Hotspot 2.0 roaming as a user moves through the covered areas of the Palace Hotel, out onto Market Street in downtown San Francisco, and at popular locations such as Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf.  It also represents one of the great advantages of Wi-Fi technology, namely, the opportunity to roam not just with other service providers but also with municipalities, public venues, and even private businesses, many of which have a Wi-Fi footprint in highly desirable locations.  

"We believe this demonstration NGH network at the Wi-Fi Global Congress is just the beginning of how Hotspot 2.0 will revolutionize wireless broadband connectivity," said Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. "In time, we see thousands, tens of thousands, and eventually millions of islands of Wi-Fi connectivity being woven together through roaming consortiums between the operators."

"Working with Ruckus Wireless and the City of San Francisco, we're thrilled to provide this NGH network during the Wi-Fi Global Congress so end users can experience the benefits of the technology first hand," said Shrikant Shenwai, CEO, Wireless Broadband Alliance. "Leveraging Hotspot 2.0 technology, it's a high-performance network that delivers a completely seamless and ubiquitous Wi-Fi experience across a number of locations throughout San Francisco via a wide range of Passpoint-enabled devices."

This WFA certification program allows the Wi-Fi Alliance to guarantee interoperability with Hotspot 2.0-enabled devices and is a very important program in advancing the broad-based rollout of interoperable equipment.

'NGH Live Experience' is taking place during the WBA's fifth Wi-Fi Global Congress and 25^th WBA Roundtable Conference at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, being held through October 10th.

For more details on the WBA and the Wi-Fi Global Congress, please visit: http://www.wifiglobalcongress.com

For more information on the WFA and Passpoint certification, please visit: http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-and-learn/wi-fi-certified-passpoint%E2%84%A2.

ABOUT RUCKUS WIRELESS
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, Ruckus Wireless, Inc. RKUS is a global supplier of advanced wireless systems for the rapidly expanding mobile Internet infrastructure market. The company offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor "Smart Wi-Fi" products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises, and has over 40,000 end-customers worldwide. Ruckus technology addresses Wi-Fi capacity and coverage challenges caused by the ever-increasing amount of traffic on wireless networks due to accelerated adoption of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Ruckus invented and has patented state-of-the-art wireless voice, video, and data technology innovations, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase client data rates, and avoid interference, providing consistent and reliable distribution of delay-sensitive multimedia content and services over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi. For more information, visit http://www.ruckuswireless.com.

Ruckus, Ruckus Wireless, SmartCell, and ZoneFlex are trademarks of Ruckus Wireless, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other product or company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact
Mark Priscaro
Ruckus Wireless
mark.priscaro@ruckuswireless.com
+1 925-367-5505

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SOURCE Ruckus Wireless, Inc.