Cutting roaming costs and expanding coverage with Radiator SIM-based authentication.

Modern SIM-based devices, like smartphones and tablets, are able to join and switch between different networks automatically. This is especially valuable to mobile operators who want to offload data from their mobile network to a nearby Wi-Fi network, because Wi-Fi connections are significantly cheaper to operate. It also enables Wi-Fi providers to monetize their Wi-Fi net- works and provide services in partnership with mobile operators. In addition, with use of OpenRoaming or other Wi-Fi roaming services, it also provides a way to expand the coverage of carrier Wi-Fi.

Use cases for the SIM authentication include:

Wi-Fi Offloading:

In busy locations with high volumes of mobile traffic like sports stadiums, shopping malls, public transport hubs and underground metros, SIM-based devices can automatically switch from mobile data connections to local Wi-Fi networks. Transferring the data traffic to Wi-Fi networks reduces the load on the mobile network, which improves the coverage and the user experience. In addition, using Wi-Fi roaming services, such as Orion Wi-Fi or OpenRoaming, can further reduce costs when carriers can use these additional services for Wi-Fi offloading.

Voice over Wi-Fi

SIM-based devices can also switch voice calls from mobile networks to Wi-Fi networks, and this kind of call is known as Voice over Wi-Fi. As with data traffic, switching traffic from regular calls to Wi-Fi networks can help carriers and operators to reduce the load on the mobile network, enabling better call quality and continuity.

Wi-Fi Roaming

When a SIM-based device automatically joins a Wi-Fi network or switches to another one, this is called Wi-Fi roaming. Wi-Fi roaming is used to maintain an uninterrupted data connection when the user moves from location to location, or when the current Wi-Fi connection is overloaded or when the signal is weak. In these situations as well, using OpenRoaming and other Wi-Fi roaming services can expand the coverage for mobile carrier.

Wi-Fi SIM-based authentication is essential to making these capabilities work. Before a device is allowed to join a new Wi-Fi network, it must be authenticated using the IMSI*. For this reason, Wi-Fi SIM-based authentication is supported by the latest Android and iOS mobile devices. However, there are still some security issues with this type of authentication. As a result, mobile OS manufacturers are now pushing for even better security on Wi-Fi networks and they require IMSI Privacy Protection with all new OS versions.

How can Radiator help you in this?

The Radiator SIM Pack for Radiator AAA Server Software makes it easy for operators to enable IMSI Privacy Protection. It is the key component needed for secure and seamless switching between mobile and Wi-Fi networks using SIM-based authentication. The Radiator SIM Pack also provides all the functions required for a 3GPP AAA Server.

IMSI privacy is a key feature of the Radiator SIM Pack, and it provides server-side support for permanent identity protection during Wi-Fi SIM-based authentication, Wi-Fi offloading and VoWiFi, resulting in a higher quality user experience. You can read more about Radiator SIM Pack and IMSI Privacy protection from our IMSI Privacy whitepaper.

In addition to this, Radiator provides also all the services and products needed when joining to  Wi-Fi roaming services, such as OpenRoaming, or when connecting to mobile carrier infrastructure by using Diameter interfaces.

Would you like to know more?

If you would like to know more about Radiator, SIM authentication, IMSI Privacy, joining OpenRoaming etc., and how we can help you in your use case, you can always contact our team at info(a)radiatorsoftware.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!

*) In SIM-based mobile devices, like smart phones and tablets, the user’s unique identifier is stored on the SIM card in a standard format known as the International Mobile Subscriber Identifier, or IMSI for short.

Connect to OpenRoaming™ with Radiator

Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), provides OpenRoaming™, a roaming federation service enabling an automatic and secure Wi-Fi experience globally. It creates a federation of networks and identity providers to enable automatic roaming and user onboarding on Wi-Fi. More information can be found from WBA OpenRoaming™ pages or from the video below.

 

Recently, we have seen developments where carriers and other organisations, such as universities, are embracing OpenRoaming™ for their guest Wi-Fi access. This industry backig and focus on end user experience is one of the key benefits of OpenRoaming™.

As OpenRoaming™ becomes more integrated in the Android and Apple devices, the host organisations do not need to worry about how they will provide guest user credentials for guests. The guests will already authenticate with Apple, Google, participating operators and even in the future with Facebook credentials to guest networks without requiring host organisations to instruct them or provide configuration to their devices. For users, this development would bring significant benefits: secure and easy access to the Wi-Fi network wherever they go.

Radiator Software, being a WBA member and solution provider, can provide your organisation the products and services you need in order to join OpenRoaming™.

Radiator supports OpenRoaming™ requirements

For OpenRoaming™, support both for RadSec and DNSRoaming protocol is needed in order to implement the roaming securely and without extra effort to the end user. Radiator AAA Server supports both these protocols as can be seen from our product page. With RadSec, we are proud to tell that Radiator was the first commercial AAA Server where the protocol was implemented.

At the same time, we have 20 years of experience for providing roaming solutions to our Radiator customers - especially for international roaming federations suchs as eduroam and govroam. For these customers, we can of course provide assistance when joining OpenRoaming™.

Interested in joining OpenRoaming™ using Radiator?

For OpenRoaming™, our team can offer you a complete package: providing the software and the installation and the configuration assistance in order to join OpenRoaming™. After this, with Radiator support, you can ask for any later on assistance needed if for example configuration changes are needed.

Please contact our sales team at sales@radiatorsoftware.com

Transition from ISP to LTE Carrier - with the help of Radiator products

Recently, we have seen a transition with many operators evolving from traditional Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to LTE carriers who provide fixed line, WiFi, and mobile connections. At the same time, their needs for authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) become more complex. As an example, on top of a standard RADIUS AAA infrastructure, these carriers may need Diameter interfaces and a 3GPP AAA server.

For Radiator customers, we have made this transition as easy as possible - and with the flexibility of Radiator, it is easy to bring it to different infrastructures as a new solution.

How Radiator can help

As many of our customers have evolved from ISPs to LTE Carriers, their needs for different features have evolved at the same time. For these needs, we have developed Radiator Carrier class product line. In order to ensure cost-effective solutions, we offer a modular approach where you can purchase only the components that you will need in your project.

For example, many of our customers have used Radiator for both fixed and WiFi access for years. When they need to enable VoWiFi calling features, they can just add Radiator SIM Module to their network, and in this way, enable different EAP-SIM / EAP-AKA / EAP-AKA’ authentication methods and have a fully featured 3GPP AAA Server in their network as well.

Another example is our Radiator GBA/BSF Module that provides easy authentication for VoLTE supplementary services. This way you can ensure that VoLTE supplementary services (call forwarding, knocking, call barring) are in use in your LTE infrastructure without resorting to 2G/3G infrastructure.

Would you like to know more?

If you are interested in Radiator features such as Diameter interfaces, online charging, VoWiFi, or 3GPP AAA Server, you can find more details in our website or contact our sales team at sales@radiatorsoftware.com. We will be happy to help you with your project.

Radiator 3GPP AAA Server white paper published

We are happy to announce that Radiator 3GPP AAA Server white paper (pdf) has now been published. 3GPP AAA Server white paper, as well as our previous white papers about Radiator SIM support and Radiator Policy and Charging support, can be found from OSC website.

If you are in a need for 3GPP AAA Server solution, you can always contact us at sales(a.t.)radiatorsoftware.com

Enhance your voice coverage and get back in control - doing VoWiFi with Radiator

Since Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) has been introduced into the market, operators are
increasing their indoor coverage overnight to provide better voice coverage to their subscribers and offer new voice models (both domestic and roaming). With new generation devices and automatic SIM authentication, end-users will never have to consider are they connected to LTE- or WiFi network.

Doing with seamless call transfer support between WiFi and VoLTE provides new opportunities for operators. For years, voice calls have been transmitted over Wi-Fi in the form of OTT applications such as Skype. The problem with OTT applications from an operator’s perspective is that the operator loses control and revenue. With VoWiFi voice calls and messaging work seamlessly for the end-user - and operator retains control.

Benefits for VoWiFi solution

For operator, several benefits are the same as for the end-user - for example better indoor coverage. Additional benefits come from getting the control back for the calls, making OTT players such as skype less important. WiFi is also low-cost solution to enhance voice service coverage and at the same time offload traffic from the core network. After all, VoWiFi is using sharing similar infrastructure as VoLTE.

For end-user, the benefits come from seamless voice and messaging solution between WiFi and LTE networks - provided that their smartphone will support the solution. At the same time WiFi calling will provide better indoor coverage as it will complement LTE network. Also, the operator can offer atttractive solutions that can for example minimise roaming charges when using VoWiFi.

How to do this with Radiator?

Radiator products provide the essential components for VoWifi authentication. Authentication is done with our Radiator SIM Pack that also includes 3GPP AAA Server - providing all the interfaces for 3GPP and non-3GPP authentication. When combined with Radiator Telco Pack Diameter support for policy control and authentication, your network will be ready for Wifi calling. Radiator integrates with all your evolved packet core and WiFi network elements via 3GPP interfaces.


Please contact our team at info(a)open.com.au - we are happy to provide you more information.