Overview of Hotspot 2.0

Definition

Hotspot 2.0, a technical specification designed by the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA), aims to provide users with cellular-like mobile experience. Built on IEEE 802.11u standards, it achieves automatic Wi-Fi identification and seamless handovers, enabling wireless terminals to roam between networks without additional identity authentication.

Purpose

Today's WLANs face usability problems and security vulnerabilities:

Users need to manually connect their terminals to the WLAN, including opening WLAN management UI on the wireless terminals, searching for SSIDs, selecting the SSID to connect, and configuring identity authentication parameters.
After associating with the AP, the wireless terminal needs to be further authenticated to gain access to network services.
Different WLANs provide inconsistent and limited security mechanisms.

Hotspot 2.0 solves the security and usability problems of WLANs. It provides users with automatic and secure WLAN access. Wireless terminals can automatically discover Hotspot 2.0 networks, select and associate with the APs based on the network information provided by APs, and finish identity authentication.

Benefits

Benefits to network service providers

Data traffic can be transmitted on 2G/3G/4G networks or offloaded to Wi-Fi networks.
Roaming access is supported.
Users enjoy varied network access modes.

Benefits to terminal users

Automatic and simple connection process
Granted access to several WLANs with one group of account credentials
Secure and reliable WPA2-802.1X authentication