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Figure 19. Typical WLAN roaming ecosystem

The Wi-Fi Hub provides a central connectivity point between the visited Wi-Fi networks and the home subscriber
networks. Within the hub, there are two general functions –
• Inter-connectivity – maintaining information associated with each Wi-Fi access point in each Wi-Fi network,
and managing the authentication/authorization process of an end-customer to that visited network back to
their home network data base.
• Settlement and Clearing –accounting of usage between networks and reconciling that usage across the visited
Wi-Fi networks to ensure that providers can get paid and users can get billed, if applicable.
To facilitate and standardize this process the WBA pioneered the Wi-Fi Roaming Intermediary Exchange (WRiX)
specification.

Subscribers – these are the end customers who roam and ultimately use Wi-Fi managed by a Visited Network Provider
(VNP). To facilitate access, the subscribers may have a downloadable app or have functionality embedded in their
device, which helps them to find appropriate Wi-Fi access points and can manage the connection process. The
subscribers may have an existing billing relationship from their Home Service Provider (HSP), and likely be assigned a
service plan that includes roaming capabilities.

For the purposes of Wi-Fi roaming, the vast majority of subscribers are mobile-centric, with a smartphone (because it
has Wi-Fi) and a SIM. Mobile Network Operators who choose to connect with a Wi-Fi roaming hub provider who can
enable the appropriate subscribers to access Wi-Fi as defined in their service plan.

Report title: Connected City Blueprint
40 Issue Date: 15 December 2016 Wireless Broadband Alliance Confidential & Proprietary.
Copyright © 2016 Wireless Broadband Alliance
Document Version: 1.0