It’s estimated that by 2018 over 10.5 million new WiFi hotspots will be deployed—and that number is only going to grow. To help make sure that the ongoing deployment of seamless, interoperable, and global WiFi networks is secure, DigiCert has joined the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and Wi-Fi Alliance.

DigiCert is the first Certificate Authority to join the WBA and has joined at a pivotal time when Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) networks are now a commercial reality and operators are reaping the benefits of improved carrier-grade of WiFi. DigiCert hopes to add our security industry expertise to further enable WBAs mission in creating the next generation of WiFi networks.

As the newest member of WBA, DigiCert is in in good company. Existing members include AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Cisco Systems, Ruckus Wireless, Comcast, Intel Corporation, Google, and Time Warner Cable. WBA members collectively serve more than 1 billion subscribers and operate more than 10 million hotspots globally.

Next Generation WiFi Hotspots, Secure WiFi You Can Trust

DigiCert’s vision in joining the WBA is to enhance online privacy and data security. By working on the next generation of WiFi platforms with these groups, DigiCert will help create solutions that are seamless, scalable, and—most importantly—secure.

“The WBA brings together all parties from across the ecosystem, giving them the opportunity to work together to make Wi-Fi the best it can be. These new additions join at a critical time when the benefits of Wi-Fi have been fully recognized and solutions such as NGH, Carrier Wi-Fi, and Community Wi-Fi have finally broken in to the commercial world. Our new members play a crucial role in ensuring that consumers connecting to a Wi-Fi network will be exposed to the best user experience possible, regardless of time or location.”

Shrikant Shenwai

CEO, Wireless Broadband Alliance

DigiCert thinks encryption and authentication are the core of keeping users safe and data protected as technology evolves. In order for users to take advantage of the growing connectivity from distributed WiFi hotspots, they need to trust that service providers can and will protect their data and privacy.

We are looking forward to enabling strong authentication and assisting with the deployment of encryption for the next generation of WiFi networks being developed by organizations like the WBA.

DigiCert Secure WiFi Enables Strong Wireless Protection

A secure WiFi connection is a critical component in the future of online privacy; and strong security is at the core of this new generation of networks that users and devices will rely on for online communication and access.

With these industry groups working together, consumers can expect an improved networking experience and:

• An easier method for finding and authenticating to wireless networks
• A simple, consistent online access experience
• Seamless interoperability between devices, operators, and networks

This advance in the customer experience for wireless networking will allow users to travel between different networks around the world without needing to authenticate to each individual network. This eliminates the need for users to find and authenticate each individual network, which is part of the advantage from using smart wireless devices and trusted managed service providers.

By relying on strong authentication standards, users can pass through various locations and automatically trust networks. These networks are provided by trusted, verified service providers who utilize hardware that is compatible with technology standards being developed in industry standards groups.

WiFi Security Is Critical for the Future

New advances in online services and network connectivity in every day devices means that more and more of our daily lives rely on WiFi technology. And, as more of our lives are automated or enhances by Internet-enabled devices, more of our personal data and privacy is accessible through the Internet. Because of this, it's critical to make WiFi security a priority and continue to take steps to advance WiFi security. Strong security is critical for our networks in order to control who and which devices are able to access our information and that our data can’t be intercepted by malicious actors.