By: Alena Newcomb

What is a WI-FI hotspot? Wireless Local Area Network location that provides

broadband Internet access.

Use of laptops, PDA, or cellphones

WI-FI hotspots first proposed by Brett Stewart at the NetWorld conference in San Francisco Moscone Center in August 1993

First called Public Accessible Wireless LANs

Term “Hotspot” introduced by Nokia in 1998

WI-FI uses unlicensed radio spectrum and does not require regulatory approval for individual installation

Allows LANs to be deployed without cabling, reducing cost of network

Ideal in locations where running physical cables isn't practical such as outdoors or historical buildings

WI-FI products are widely available on the market

The range of the Wi-Fi depends on several factors Power output of wireless router

Strength of the receiving wireless card

Obstructions

Responsible for services rendered by the customer. Order of service

User getting a bill for service

Post-use satisfaction survey

Overview of Hotspots Free hotspots

Provide open accessUser has to go authentication

Open hotspotsWireless LANs that allow users to connect to

get broadband access

Most remote netowrk and data management services are enabled by NOC Tracking Problems and Performance

Driving Problem Resolution

Performing Software and Firmware Updates

Monitoring and Managing Servers

Enhancing Network Security

Authentication Identifies which entity can gain access to the

network Authorization

Identifies the boundaries or limits of the access provided to each user

Accounting Tracks the duration of the access and

accounts for the time used and data transferred during the session

Contracts that quantify the service given to a customer Bandwidth usage Service availability Latency Throughput Outage notification requirements An acceptable level of service provider

performance is guaranteed to the customer

Price plans offered to customers can be divided into units called packages

A price plan can comprise of many packages At least one package fee or one service rate Package fee will be a standard fee that has no

measurement unit Service rate will be measured with an activity

unit

Subscription Plan

Pay-Go plan

PrePaid Cards

Monitor network hardware and software components Routers Switches Aps Firewalls Authentication Servers

Pinging utility used in polling the AP at regular intervals If AP outage occurs the network administrator is

notified by email. Faults in devices can be immediately detected,

isolated, and fixed

Configuration of User Accounts Techinical Support Account Management Usage History

Historical and online usage monitoring

Operations Support System enables Wi-Fi service providers to introduce custom service offering Supporting various authentication choices

Billing models

Payment mechanisms

Charging principles

Operations Support System can be equipped with ability to have session intercept pages Emergency Situations

HotLining feature will provide an operator with the capability to address issues with users A wireless operator using the hotlining feature may

hotline the user to resolve the problem. Blocking normal packet data usage Notify subscriber that packet data usage is blocked Directing subscriber to rectify blockage Restoring normal operations

Data Privacy A private connection is established. Over the public

channel by using data encryption. Authentication

Authentication is provided between communicating parties by the use of standard key encryption

Reliability Data can not be tampered during a session.

VoIP Voice communication over the internet

Mobile Hotspots Trains, buses, and ferries