The Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) is pleased to announce a partnership with the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the industry association focused on driving the next-generation WiFi experience. WAPA and WBA have established a cross-industry working group to facilitate communication and collaboration around open access, carrier-grade WiFi networks.
Recent predictions from industry analysts point towards 2014 being a breakthrough year for WiFi in South Africa, as some of the larger telecommunications providers move towards providing connectivity via WiFi or mobile data 'offload' in public areas, such as transport hubs and shopping centres.
"WAPA has long highlighted the importance of WiFi to our members and the industry," says WAPA Chairperson Mohammad Patel, "and we are pleased to announce the formation of this partnership with WBA, the unquestioned worldwide expert in guidelines for high-quality WiFi networks."
WAPA and the WBA share similar aims in that both organisations are dedicated to growing the wireless industry through the dissemination of information around best practices. According to Ton Brand, Senior Director Marketing and Industry Development for WBA: "The similarity of objectives between WBA and WAPA is very prominent. We look forward to engaging with the telecoms industry in South Africa through this partnership and working together to drive the adoption of next-generation WiFi in this region that will ultimately secure a seamless WiFi user experience for end-users."
A series of free Webinars, to be conducted over the next six months, will run through the concepts for setting up WiFi networks in line with industry best practices. These are open to the public to raise awareness; however, participation in the WAPA-led working group requires WAPA membership. Topics covered will be as follows:
1. Interoperability 101: Defining 'WiFi roaming' and 'WiFi offload'; Next Generation Hotspot (NGH)/Hotspot 2.0
2. Carrier WiFi: Its building blocks and roadmap; best practices around open access
3. WiFi roaming: WBA roaming framework; understanding WRIX
The first Webinar will take place at 10am SAST on Tuesday, 28 January. Any interested parties are requested to contact WAPA for more details by e-mailing info@wapa.org.za.
WAPA Deputy Chair and WiFi champion Ellie Hagopian notes: "Designing and installing a WiFi network that is reliable, interoperable and able to handle the demands placed on it for value-adds such as location-based services, requires a nuanced understanding of the capabilities of hardware and software, as well as industry standards."
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WAPA
The Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA), established in 2006, is a non-profit industry representative body acting as a collective voice for more than 170 independent wireless operators in South Africa. WAPA's primary objective is to ensure the sustainability of the wireless access services market by facilitating self-regulation. WAPA's membership is differentiated from other wireless providers by their focus on using open standard wireless technologies (WIFI). WAPA offers its members regulatory advice, a code of conduct, an enforcement process and a forum for knowledge-sharing. More info: http://www.wapa.org.za / info@wapa.org.za.
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http://www.youtube.com/user/wapasouthafrica
The Wireless Broadband Alliance
Founded in 2003, the aim of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is to secure an outstanding user experience through the global deployment of next-generation WiFi. In order to make this a reality, WBA is currently championing various initiatives in the WiFi ecosystem, including Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) trials, WiFi roaming and its Interoperability Compliance Program (ICP). Today, membership includes major fixed operators such as BT, 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. WBA member operators collectively serve more than one billion subscribers and operate more than five million hotspots globally. The WBA Board includes AT&T, Boingo Wireless, BT, China Mobile, Cisco Systems, Comcast, iPass, KT Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, Orange and Ruckus Wireless.
Follow the Wireless Broadband Alliance at:
http://www.facebook.com/WirelessBroadbandAlliance
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