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Utilities Business Review | Wednesday, July 05, 2023
CableLabs and Telecom Infra Project collaborate to develop next-generation OpenWifi solutions.
FREMONT, CA: "CableLabs has supported OpenWiFi since the launch, and we believe in the power of open and disaggregated Wi-Fi solutions," said Josh Redmore, principal architect of wireless access technologies for CableLabs. "This new version of OpenWiFi leverages open source software and hardware to greatly reduce the barrier to entry of deploying managed Wi-Fi."
CableLabs, one of the leaders in cable industry research and innovation, along with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi, revealed the successful validation of the latest interoperable hardware and software version 2.9. They also unveiled a revamped OpenWiFi Community Lab, which will be a testing and demonstration platform for cable operators worldwide.
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"CableLabs is the guiding light, pointing to the innovation that will soon be adopted by the cable industry," said Jack Raynor, co-chair of the OpenWiFi program group at TIP. "The OpenWiFi Community Lab is a great resource for CableLabs' members who are building Wi-Fi networks and want to demo, test, trial, and ultimately deploy OpenWiFi."
OpenWiFi, an open-source platform aimed at reducing the cost of developing and operating Wi-Fi networks, has introduced a new version with enhanced features. The latest version, built on the uCentral communication layer, supports Multi Pre-Shared Key for device login based on MAC address. It also incorporates a captive portal that requires user interaction before granting Wi-Fi access. OpenWiFi further supports OpenRoaming, a service provided by the Wireless Broadband Alliance, enabling automatic and secure Wi-Fi connectivity on a global scale.
Several interoperable companies participated in the trial and utilized the OpenWiFi Lab, including hardware manufacturers ActionTec, EdgeCore, HFCL, Indio Networks, and Lindsay Broadband, as well as software cloud controllers companies HFCL, NetExperience, Wavespot, and Indio Networks. This collaborative effort ensures seamless integration and compatibility among hardware and software components.
The advancements in OpenWiFi provide greater flexibility, security, and ease of use for Wi-Fi networks, enabling efficient connectivity across diverse devices and locations.
"By having OpenWiFi work seamlessly with OpenRoaming out of the box, it creates strategic business opportunities in verticals including retail, hospitality, education, and multi-dwelling units," said Tiago Rodriques, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance. "It's a smart move by the community developing and building the OpenWiFi solution to include OpenRoaming capabilities."
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