October 3, 2022

[Press Release]

New Wi-Fi 6E Box Launched by Swisscom is Powered by SoftAtHome

The Swiss operator’s WLAN-Box 3 offers best-in-class tri-band Wi-Fi, delivering ambient connectivity in the home and hugely improving customer experience

PARIS, France – 26 September 2022 – SoftAtHome, an independent software company for broadband, video, and analytics, is proud to have played an active part in Swisscom’s new WLAN-Box 3, based on Wi-Fi 6E. With this new tri-band Mesh repeater and WLAN access point, Swisscom provides the best Wi-Fi experience of the moment.
SoftAtHome’s Wifi’ON enables the WLAN-Box 3 to provide end-users with improved in-home connectivity and a great Internet experience thanks to the new capabilities offered by the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
A best-in-class Tri-band Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E is taking advantage of the new 6 GHz frequency.

The added radio spectrum and automatic tri-band steering between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands drastically reduce network saturation to improve network experience while working from home or enjoying entertainment.

With Wi-Fi 6E-equipped devices, Wi-Fi can be as fast as 4800 Mbps.

This new box can connect all types of devices: new Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices and the current and oldest generation supporting Wi-Fi 4, 5, or 6.
A global Smart Wi-Fi network
Wifi’ON already powers other devices of the Swisscom operator: previous generations of Internet-Box and WLAN-Box.

With the latest launch, Wifi’ON provides a global Smart Wi-Fi solution to Swisscom customers. New WLAN-Box 3 users will benefit from all Smart Wi-Fi services: Wifi’ON delivers ambient connectivity in the home and provides a vastly improved customer experience. It simplifies the onboarding of repeaters in the home, automatically selecting the best Wi-Fi channel for each home access point. Depending on usage, it manages device roaming to the best Access Point and most appropriate Wi-Fi band.

The first WLAN-Box with a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
The WLAN-Box 3 is the first WLAN-Box equipped with two 1 Gbps and one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports for a faster LAN, providing the end-users with all the LAN services they can expect from a premium device.

An eco-friendly device
This device has been designed to be eco-friendly as it is made of PCR recycled material for the housing and power supply. Short-term software evolutions will make it possible to use 6 GHz frequency only if Wi-Fi 6E devices have been detected in the home network, contributing to significant power savings.

“With the new WLAN-Box 3, Swisscom proves its commitment to bringing the best Wi-Fi products to our end customers,” said Marcel Burgherr, Head of Home Devices at Swisscom. “Thanks to SoftAtHome’s software, this triband premium product delivers a superfast and reliable Internet connection for the increasing number of Wi-Fi devices at home.”

“We have worked closely with Swisscom for several years, and we are proud to bring them our Wi-Fi expertise, especially our know-how on the Wi-Fi 6E standard “, added David Viret-Lange, CEO of SoftAtHome. “We also share Swisscom’s philosophy for developing eco-responsible devices, and we are happy to have contributed to making this Wi-Fi device greener.”

About SoftAtHome

SoftAtHome is an independent software provider with six different solutions for broadband (Connect’ON), Wi-Fi (Wifi’ON), Security (Secure’ON), Smart Home (Things’ON), video (Watch’ON), analytics, and QoE monitoring (Eyes’ON). The company’s products are deployed by Telecom and Broadcast operators in over 25 million home networks and millions of mobile devices. The company, owned by operators, has over 300 employees, mainly software engineers committed to open-source communities such as prpl or RDK. SoftAtHome’s hybrid products uniquely leverage the best from Cloud-based software components and software embedded in multiple mobiles and fixed devices.

For more information visit www.softathome.com or contact@softathome.com

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September 29, 2022

[Blog]

Secure and Seamless Carrier Wi-Fi Services with Passpoint

This is an excerpt from ENEA’s white paper Wi-Fi in the 5G Era – Strategy Guide for Operators. The full white paper is available here if you like what you read. Don’t hesitate to contact ENEA if you have any questions.

In this post, we will talk about the different Passpoint releases (R1-R3) and the status of device support. Don’t miss our upcoming blog post, A Pragmatic Approach to Passpoint on how to overcome challenges with the lack of widespread device support for R2 and R3.

One of the essential tools in the Wi-Fi toolbox is Passpoint® with SIM authentication. It enables seamless and secure carrier-grade quality and highly monetizable Wi-Fi services. The Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E radio technology, capable of delivering high-quality wireless connectivity, is an excellent starting point. But for service providers, such capabilities must be transformed into user-friendly, secure, well-defined, and preferably carrier-class high-speed wireless data services.

To that end, the Wi-Fi industry has developed the Hotspot 2.0 standard, nowadays more commonly referred to by its equipment certification name of Passpoint. Once provisioned on the phone or other Wi-Fi device, Passpoint technology allows users to connect securely, instantly, and automatically to the public (or enterprise) Passpoint-capable Wi-Fi networks, for example, at public venues such as airports, stadiums, transport hubs, on aircraft, and so on.

The Passpoint technology also facilitates roaming onto Wi-Fi networks belonging to other service providers or third parties, given that a roaming agreement with the subscriber’s home service provider exists. The WBA OpenRoaming initiative has the potential to make Wi-Fi roaming just as seamless for the user as roaming with cellular phones.

THE COMPONENTS OF PASSPOINT

A Passpoint-capable network is defined by supporting the following functions:

The network (Wi-Fi access point) should broadcast its capabilities and available services using 802.11u and a protocol called ANQP.
The network must use 802.1x-based authentication and WPA2 or WPA3 for over-the-air encryption.
Support for EAP-SIM/AKA (SIM identity-based) or EAP-TLS/TTLS (certificate-based methods usually for non-SIM devices) authentication.
Optional Wi-Fi roaming with home operator billing.

A critical component is the capability of Passpoint services to deliver ‘Wi-Fi offload’-type services based on credentials stored in the subscriber’s SIM. This means mobile operators can integrate carrier Wi-Fi services into their total service offering. Read more about this in our Wi-Fi and Cellular Convergence – Opportunities Today post.

Passpoint is designed to create a carrier-grade Wi-Fi service with a familiar and seamless user experience like that of cellular networks. However, mobile operators can comfortably apply EAP-SIM/AKA authentication and mobile core integration outside the complete Hotspot 2.0/Passpoint specification. Aptilo Networks was already providing such solutions long before the release of the first Passpoint-capable devices. This also means that EAP-based authentication (SIM/AKA and TLS/TTLS) is not equivalent to Passpoint as such, which is a common misunderstanding.

In the USA, Passpoint-capable Wi-Fi services and roaming are fairly readily available, for example, on the Boingo Wi-Fi network deployed at many airport locations and on some public Wi-Fi networks provided by US cablecos, for instance, on the former Time Warner Cable public Wi-Fi network today owned and operated by Charter Communications. Today, both Android and iOS operating systems natively support Passpoint, and many phones provided by US carriers are pre-provisioned to support Passpoint services.

In Europe and elsewhere, Passpoint-capable Wi-Fi services are less common but available from some major carriers in the form of EAP-SIM/AKA enabled ‘Wi-Fi offload’ convergent mobile services. Most enterprise-grade Wi-Fi access points are certified according to the Passpoint specifications.

Release 1 (R1)
The first release was introduced in 2012, and all the protocols and standards mentioned above, including 802.11u and ANQP, were included with the ability for the device to discover Passpoint-enabled networks and automatically connect to the optimal one.

Challenges still remain in the onboarding of new devices. Users need to provision Pass-point R1 credentials manually by downloading a particular file that contains profile and credential information. Many service providers use an app to make this process seamless for the user. More or less, all mobile phones and laptops support Passpoint RI. This includes Apple iPhones, although Apple has never formally certified them.

Release 2 (R2)
This version, released in 2014, included the important Online Sign-Up (OSU) server allowing new users to create an account and, in a user-friendly way, provision Passpoint credentials at the point of access. This enables easy ad-hoc sign-up of new users, where they can select the service provider of choice if several options exist. The client validates the OSU server certificate to ensure that the server is trusted. SOAP-XML or OMA-DM messages over HTTPS are then used for secure communications between the client and the provisioning servers.

Passpoint R2 requires a separate SSID for Online Sign-Up, either an open SSID or a so-called OSEN (OSU Server-only Authenticated L2 Encryption Network). This version also includes enhanced policy control for service providers. Device support is still limited.

Release 3 (R3)
R3 was released in 2019, but has not yet been certified by any major handset manufacturers (as of September 2022). This version includes several new ANQP protocol elements and improvements in the interaction between operators and end-users. While previous versions have focused entirely on automatic connection and onboarding of the users, Passpoint R3 aims to enhance captive portal functions by leveraging ANQP messaging.

For the first time, Passpoint allows operators to offer B2B customers a tool to engage with visitors. They can do this through a Venue URL, which displays information about the Wi-Fi service and, at the same time, provides offers and local promotions. The R3 version also includes features for end-users to approve terms and conditions and charges for the Wi-Fi service.

We think Passpoint R3 may have attempted to push the user engagement features too far. Deploying these features through ANQP locally in the access points will make it harder to maintain central control, especially in a multi-vendor deployment scenario. Because of the challenges in management and lack of device support, there is a risk that R3 will never be implemented in carrier Wi-Fi networks.

Passpoint R3 also makes roaming much quicker and easier as the client can indicate its membership of a roaming consortium to a Wi-Fi access point.

Security is further improved in R3 with support up WPA3-Enterprise, whereas R2 and R1 only support up to WPA2-Enterprise. It is also possible to use the same SSID for both the actual Wi-Fi service (WPA2/WPA3) and the online sign-up (OSEN) functionality.

STRATEGIES FOR DEPLOYING PASSPOINT IN THE REAL WORLD

The Passpoint certification is a moving target, and things may have changed by the time you read this. But, as of September 2022, only niche handset brands has been certified for the latest Passpoint release (R3). Some Android-based phones are R2 certified, but many are old and not in the market anymore. In addition, smartphone vendors usually customize the Android platform to match their product requirements. So, just because it works with one vendor doesn’t mean it works with another.

The Passpoint certification from Wi-Fi Alliance only certifies the radio protocols. In practice, new releases from R2 and above, which include more complex service-related features, cannot be guaranteed to work end-to-end in a Wi-Fi service. We have experienced this through the testing conducted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).

Conversely, it is probably true that devices with R2 support that has not been Passpoint certified also exist, just as R1 is supported in iPhones without official certification.

But as a service provider, you cannot rely on so many unknown parameters.

On a more positive note, it is generally true that most smartphones, tablets, and laptops now support at least Passpoint R1. Therefore, operators should create and deploy Wi-Fi services based on R1, possibly with an extension for selective use of R2.

One thing is certain: Operators who wait for new standards to be fully deployed and for mobile device manufacturers to adopt them risk waiting for a very long time. It is not only the complexity of the technology that decides whether a handset manufacturer develops support for standards like Passpoint R2/R3 or not. Thus, the wait could go on forever. Fortunately, there is no reason to delay the introduction of carrier-grade Wi-Fi services.

In our upcoming blog post, A Pragmatic Approach to Passpoint, we will discuss how Passpoint R1, together with the new Captive Portal API, may well be the interim solution that, in the end, becomes the permanent pragmatic solution for Passpoint-enabled networks.

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September 19, 2022

[Blog]

Using Data to Give Your Customers a Personal Experience

Using Data to Give Your Customers a Personal Experience

Collecting data is essential in any business’s marketing strategy, and for many companies, it can majorly impact their success.

New technologies make collecting data more accessible and in-depth than ever, providing insights businesses have never had. Collecting this personalized data in real-time allows you to use your customer’s data to give them a customized experience, improve their participation and increase your bottom line.

Collecting the correct data requires creative solutions if you run a business where your direct traffic is in-person visits. Places like event stadiums, shopping outlets, resorts, or gaming casinos use data collection to improve the customer experience. Utilizing tools such as Guest WiFi and Smart Marketing can allow you to collect data that can give insights into your customers and retarget them.

Use Data to Improve the Customer Experience

For many businesses, their product is the experience. Whether staying at a hotel or attending an event or concert, you want to ensure your customers have a great experience that will lead to repeat visits. The data you can collect can help provide insights through surveys, tracking behavior, and gathering feedback. Data allows you to better understand your customer’s demands by analyzing customer behaviors, reviews, and feedback that will enable you to modify and improve your services, processes, offerings, and more.

Use Data to Find your Marketing Blind Spots

Detailed and accurate data can provide you with an understanding of how your customers are engaged and responding to current marketing campaigns and allows you to make improvements. Using data that analyzes what actions or demands customers have taken previously can provide more personalized marketing analysis and predictions on future activities.

Our solutions are the Key to Collecting Data

You can leverage Go Zone WiFi to collect analytics and data on behaviors, locations, demographics, and marketing and social data. This data can help you drive business growth, increase revenue, and build brand loyalty.

Collecting quality data can allow businesses to streamline and improve the customer experience and increase revenue and growth.

Contact us to learn more about GoZone WiFi’s platform for gathering critical data and gaining key insights on your customers and audiences to help you learn, grow, and improve your business.

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September 14, 2022

[Press Release]

Wi-Fi Alliance® welcomes revision to Department of Commerce BIS interim rule

Austin, TX and Washington, D.C. – September 9, 2022 – Wi-Fi Alliance^® welcomes today’s action by the United States Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to revise the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that authorize the release of certain technology in the context of standards setting and development in standards organizations. The revised rule allows all Wi-Fi Alliance members to fully collaborate within our organization on the vital work of advancing Wi-Fi^® globally. Industry-wide collaboration among nearly 900 Wi-Fi Alliance global member companies is essential to the success of Wi-Fi, which billions of users rely on each day.

Wi-Fi Alliance thanks the United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security for providing important clarification and enabling Wi-Fi Alliance members to fully engage in our activities.

About Wi-Fi Alliance^® | www.wi-fi.org
Wi-Fi Alliance^® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi^®. Members of our collaboration forum come together from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, while providing the best possible user experience. Since 2000, Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 70,000 Wi-Fi certifications. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, backward compatibility, and the highest industry-standard security protections in place. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the internet’s traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to drive the adoption and evolution of Wi-Fi, which billions of people rely on every day.

Follow Wi-Fi Alliance:
wi-fi.org/beacon
wi-fi.org/signal
facebook.com/wificertified
twitter.com/wifialliance
linkedin.com/company/wi-fi-alliance
youtube.com/wifialliance

Media Contact:
Highwire PR for Wi-Fi Alliance
wi-fi@highwirepr.com

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September 14, 2022

[Press Release]

Qorvo® Delivers Industry’s Longest Range, Most Efficient Wi-Fi FEM for Smart Home and IoT Applications

GREENSBORO, NC – September 13, 2022 – Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO), a leading global provider of connectivity and power solutions, today unveiled a compact integrated front-end module (iFEM) that provides power-efficient and reliable whole-home coverage for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and eventually Wi-Fi 7 systems. The QPF7250 iFEM extends Wi-Fi range by 30% over competing devices while increasing capacity to support more access points for smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The Qorvo’s QPF7250 integrates a 2.4 GHz power amplifier (PA) with DC and RF power detectors, an FCC edgeBoost™ Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) filter, a transmit-receive switch (SP2T) and a bypassable low noise amplifier (LNA) into a single device. Qorvo edgeBoost filtering technology provides unique capability to maximize capacity and range by eliminating the need to reduce output power on any Wi-Fi channels to meet regulatory requirements. Its power amplifier has been optimized for efficiency resulting in 0.35 Watt lower power dissipation over previous generations.

Tony Testa, Qorvo director of Wireless Connectivity Product Marketing, said, “Qorvo’s newest iFEM provides superior power efficiency – up to 1.4 Watt savings in a 4-stream router – better than any other integrated FEM. The very compact QPF7250 makes possible smaller, less intrusive access points and wireless routers. This device is the latest in a growing Qorvo family of highly integrated products that will address operational and architectural flexibility for Wi-Fi 6 and 7 systems, and includes solutions for home gateways, routers and enterprise deployments.”

The QPF7250 iFEM uses 15% less power and generates less heat while increasing range by approximately 10% through higher regulatory-compliant power and leading throughput across Wi-Fi channels 1 through 11. It provides improved range, capacity and coexistence across all available channels, significantly increasing the quality of service. Qorvo iFEMs reduce time to market by resolving integration challenges within the module and delivering assured RF-tested performance. The reduced part count also lowers the bill of materials cost and overall cost of ownership.

QPF7250 samples and production devices are available from Qorvo and authorized distributors.

Qorvo’s Wireless Connectivity (WCON) business is a leading developer of wireless semiconductor system solutions for connected devices that support Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread and Bluetooth® Low Energy. WCON offers integrated Wi-Fi front ends and an extensive portfolio of advanced RF chips and software for the Internet of Things. More information about the company’s Wi-Fi innovation can be found at https://www.qorvo.com/innovation/wi-fi.

About Qorvo
Qorvo (Nasdaq: QRVO) supplies innovative semiconductor solutions that make a better world possible. We combine product and technology leadership, systems-level expertise and global manufacturing scale to quickly solve our customers’ most complex technical challenges. Qorvo serves diverse high-growth segments of large global markets, including consumer electronics, smart home/IoT, automotive, EVs, battery-powered appliances, network infrastructure, healthcare and aerospace/defense. Visit www.qorvo.com to learn how our diverse and innovative team is helping connect, protect and power our planet.

Qorvo is a registered trademark of Qorvo, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Cindy Warschauer
Marketing Communications Manager
Qorvo Wireless Connectivity Products
W +1-972-994-8546

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions, and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management’s current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under U.S. federal securities laws. Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those relating to fluctuations in our operating results; our substantial dependence on developing new products and achieving design wins; our dependence on several large customers for a substantial portion of our revenue; the COVID-19 pandemic materially and adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations; a loss of revenue if defense and aerospace contracts are canceled or delayed; our dependence on third parties; risks related to sales through distributors; risks associated with the operation of our manufacturing facilities; business disruptions; poor manufacturing yields; increased inventory risks and costs due to timing of customer forecasts; our inability to effectively manage or maintain evolving relationships with platform providers; our ability to continue to innovate in a very competitive industry; underutilization of manufacturing facilities as a result of industry overcapacity; unfavorable changes in interest rates, pricing of certain precious metals, utility rates and foreign currency exchange rates; our acquisitions and other strategic investments failing to achieve financial or strategic objectives; our ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; warranty claims, product recalls and product liability; changes in our effective tax rate; changes in the favorable tax status of certain of our subsidiaries; enactment of international or domestic tax legislation, or changes in regulatory guidance; risks associated with environmental, health and safety regulations and climate change; risks from international sales and operations; economic regulation in China; changes in government trade policies, including imposition of tariffs and export restrictions; we may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our debt; restrictions imposed by the agreements governing our debt; our reliance on our intellectual property portfolio; claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights; security breaches and other similar disruptions compromising our information; theft, loss or misuse of personal data by or about our employees, customers or third parties; provisions in our governing documents and Delaware law may discourage takeovers and business combinations that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests; and volatility in the price of our common stock. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in Qorvo’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.

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August 31, 2022

[Blog]

The Future of Automotive Connectivity and Communication Test Solutions

LitePoint’s Rex Chen is the author of this blog post based on his webinar discussing the evolving wireless networks within automobiles –for communication within and outside the automobile. This post focuses on the emerging C-V2X wireless communications standards and how to maintain required performance and reliability.

C-V2X and the Future of Automotive Connectivity

The car of the future will increasingly depend on multiple wireless networks – one for communication within the vehicle and one for communications between the car and the external environment. Quality connectivity is important for both of these networks, but the external network – called the cellular vehicle to external environment (C-V2X) – has several unique challenges that we will explore in this blog post.

Before I go into depth on C-V2X, let’s talk a bit about technologies involved with inside the car networks. The two most established technologies are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi which are used to enable hands-free infotainment dash controls, mobile device connectivity, Internet access and other data features. The relative newcomer to internal data networking is ultra-wideband (UWB), which is an emerging wireless standard that offers high precision location services and security. In a car key fob, for example, it provides a much more secure way to lock and unlock the car.

C-V2X

While these technologies will make the mark in automotive applications and infotainment systems, lets dive further into C-V2X for external connectivity. The X is used as a wild card to represent the communication network outside the vehicle – including other cars, roadside units, and pedestrians. C-V2X standards are part of the 3GPP standards that govern 5G networking.

The 3GPP standard has had C-V2X communications support since Release 14 (2017). This capability was basic and served as a way to communicate safety messages between vehicles. Today, customer expectations are more sophisticated and there is a need for more throughput and reliability features.

3GPP Release 16 brought with it important changes for C-V2X connectivity via enhancements made to 5g New Radio (NR) standards that are used in C-V2X applications. These enhancements made NR even more reliable and efficient. The changes also deliver better support for MIMO antennas and enhancements to Ultra Low Latency Communication (URLLC).

The standard also includes the NR-based sidelink network that offers direct communications with other vehicles without passing through the cellular basestation. This enables safety features such as collision avoidance and cooperative lane changing. Recently, in the United States, the FCC dedicated the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for intelligent sidelink-based direct link transportation systems. This spectrum has a fairly short transmission range of about 1 km, which makes it good for disseminating information like car speed, location, braking speed and other safety data.

One sidelink use case that is getting a lot of attention is “platooning,” where trucks or cars travel together connected by the network. Platooning only works with networks that offer near zero packet drops, instantaneous latency of 10 milliseconds or less and extremely high reliability.

Sidelink networks also feature an adaptable modulation and coding system (MCS) that enables the system to adapt packet length and data throughput depending on the characteristics of the vehicle and whether it is traveling at slow, medium or fast speed. This means that the system can adapt to a car’s speed; for example, if a braking event happens at 50 mph, the network will see a lot more messages as all of the cars on that road report that event. Thus, it’s important to propagate data more frequently.

ADAS

One important application that C-V2X enables is advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). ADAS is the foundation for self-driving cars. ADAS technology is continually being refined as it passes through multiple stages and levels of technology build out before it becomes a standard feature. Today’s ADAS are built using a lot of the complementary sensing technologies – such as cameras, radar and lidar – that will be required for autonomous vehicles.

Network Quality is Essential

Lives are on the line as people drive in their C-V2X-enabled cars, which means thorough testing is essential. Car manufacturers can either build their own C-V2X functionality by integrating the required RF components, or they can use pre-engineered RF modules that include all the required ICs and antennas. Either way, testing is required.

The picture above shows that the test flow for sub 6 GHz and millimeter wave frequencies starts with the SMT board that undergoes conductor mode testing. In these tests, an antenna is connected to the board so that calibration and verification tests can run. These tests cover transmission, power, signal quality and EBM. From the receiver side, there are sensitivity tests.

After the chip level testing is complete, it is time for the module to be tested, which includes the actual antenna that will be used in the final product. This will be done using a radiated test also known as an over the air (OTA) test.

LitePoint C-V2X Test Systems

Some of LitePoint’s key products for testing C-V2X applications include the IQcell-5G, which is a sub-6Ghz signaling test system that tests call establishment, antenna performance and measures throughput.

This test system is a simple-to-use 5G signaling test solution designed for end-of-line manufacturing, software regression and functional performance testing. The flexible system can validate RF parametric measurements, end-to-end throughput, MIMO, mobility, and user experience testing across cellular and cellular-capable connectivity devices such as smartphones, CPEs, laptops, tablets, hotspots and cars.

The IQxstream-5G FR1 tester is another option that offers multi-DUT connectivity ideal for production environments. This non-signaling tester covers 5G along with 4G LTE and other legacy cellular technologies covering the low band frequency range.

C-V2X technology offers exciting possibilities for enhanced safety and fuel efficiency, but these networks need to be reliable and high performance. For more of my thoughts on this topic, watch my recent webinar titled: The Future of Automotive Connectivity and Communication Test Solutions.

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August 31, 2022

Wi-Fi Alliance® statement on U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision

Austin, TX and Washington, D.C. – August 12, 2022 – Wi-Fi Alliance^® welcomes today’s D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to uphold the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 5.9 GHz Order. This is an important victory for America’s technological leadership, economy, and consumers who rely on Wi-Fi^® connectivity now more than ever. This decision removes the regulatory uncertainty surrounding use of the 5.9 GHz band, enabling Wi-Fi Alliance members to expedite delivery of urgently needed Wi-Fi solutions.

About Wi-Fi Alliance^® | www.wi-fi.org
Wi-Fi Alliance^® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi^®. Members of our collaboration forum come together from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, while providing the best possible user experience. Since 2000, Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 70,000 Wi-Fi certifications. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, backward compatibility, and the highest industry-standard security protections in place. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the internet’s traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to drive the adoption and evolution of Wi-Fi, which billions of people rely on every day.

Follow Wi-Fi Alliance:
wi-fi.org/beacon
wi-fi.org/signal
facebook.com/wificertified
twitter.com/wifialliance
linkedin.com/company/wi-fi-alliance
youtube.com/wifialliance

Media Contact:
Highwire PR for Wi-Fi Alliance
wi-fi@highwirepr.com

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August 31, 2022

[Press Release]

Raj Mukherjee, Leading Expert in Cloud Software Products That Drive Business Growth, Joins Calix Board of Directors

Raj Mukherjee brings more than 20 years of expertise in cloud software, top-tier talent acquisition, and small business solutions to the Calix board of directors, further positioning the company to help broadband providers simplify their businesses, excite subscribers, and grow value for their communities

SAN JOSE, CA—August 22, 2022—Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that leading technology product executive Raj Mukherjee has joined its board of directors to provide guidance to the industry-leading cloud and software company. Raj brings two decades of expertise in cloud software products that drive business growth. He will provide critical insights and counsel as Calix continues transforming the broadband industry with its award-winning product portfolio. As the newest member of the Calix board of directors, Raj will provide invaluable insights gained from a flourishing career helping small businesses adopt new technologies. With the addition of Raj, Calix is well positioned to continue its mission of helping broadband service providers (BSPs) of any size simplify their businesses, excite subscribers, and grow value to benefit their communities for generations.

Raj currently serves as the executive vice president and general manager, small business and international, at Indeed. Since 2016, Raj has led his teams to help shape the human resources technology company’s popular products. In his 20 years of leadership in product development and engineering, including his six-year tenure at Indeed, Raj gained exceptional insights into how to acquire and nurture top industry talent. As Calix continues setting consecutive quarterly hiring records, Raj’s prowess will support the company’s rapid growth and award-winning work-from-anywhere company culture.

“In an industry undergoing transformation, aided by billions of dollars in government funding and increasing subscriber expectations, Calix is leading a market disruption with its finger on the pulse of what BSPs need to be successful,” said Mukherjee. “Its prestigious cloud software product portfolio combined with visionary leadership paints a bright future for the company. As a mission-driven leader, I am very excited to join the Calix board. I look forward to supporting the organization’s mission to democratize access to broadband by enabling BSPs of any size to simplify their business, excite subscribers, and grow value.”

Raj has a proven track record of building and transforming world-class products and delivering outsized business results. Before joining Indeed, Raj was a senior vice president of product at GoDaddy Corp. for four years. Prior to that, he was a product manager for Google Inc. When working on Google’s G-Suite apps, he drove critical projects such as new onboarding experiences that contributed significantly to overall revenue growth. Before Google, Raj worked at Microsoft, on Office 365 and Exchange Server, as a product manager from 2004-2011. He started his career at Williams Cos. as a systems analyst that built the first trading platform for electric power. Raj completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree at Jadavpur University and graduated with honors from Columbia Business School and Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley with an executive MBA.

“Raj’s deep experience and leadership at Indeed, GoDaddy, Google, and Microsoft make him the ideal addition to the Calix board,” said Carl Russo, Calix chief executive officer and board chairman. “His insights into attracting world-class talent and driving innovation through cloud-based solutions will be invaluable to the Calix team as we continue to transform our industry and the way that our customers create value for their communities.”

About Calix
Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)—Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission: To enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

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August 31, 2022

[Blog]

What Does it Take for Accurate, Reliable WiFi Sensing?

The rapid pace at which technology advances can be compared to a boulder being pushed down a steep hill. It may start slowly at first, but as it rolls, it accelerates and gains momentum. Indeed, many people believe that technology is evolving faster in the twenty-first century than it ever has before, owing to the exponential growth of research that harnesses the many generations of brilliant minds and advancements that have come before us. WiFi and WiFi Sensing are similar. Despite the fact that commercial WiFi has only been available since the 1990s, WiFi is now being used in ways that were unimaginable just three decades ago. Our WiFi Sensing core technology, WiFi Motion, enables a slew of new home applications that are challenging smart home innovation, driving demand in new markets, and pushing the boundaries of connected devices.

In such a rapidly evolving field, it is critical to establish foundational processes, systems, and structures that ensure robust technology. A product must not only be intelligent but also dependable. WiFi Motion is no exception. That is why at Cognitive, we have always placed equal importance on AI (artificial intelligence) and QA (quality assurance) when building WiFi Motion. WiFi Sensing enables applications in some of the most intimate environments, like your home, where it is critical that services operate reliably to ensure customer comfort. We have drawn on our leadership team’s decades of QA and software testing experience to ensure that our approach to developing our WiFi Sensing technology and its various applications is as accurate and reliable as possible while working to learn alongside its users.

But How Have We Done That?
When WiFi Motion was in its early stages, QA’s role was to collaborate with development teams to provide confirmation that the technology was 1) effective and 2) making incremental progress. Our team knew from the start that WiFi Sensing, like WiFi, would be an ever-evolving technology with future applications. That is why we needed a strong QA foundation working closely with our development teams as we built from the ground up. Initial activity focused on establishing a set of WiFi Motion’s key performance indicators (KPIs) that were simple to understand and easy to measure. Because our leadership team’s expertise is firmly rooted in radio systems and chip design, we understood the significance of testing in a reliable and repeatable manner. Radiated measurements are especially vulnerable to measurement error, owing to high uncertainty factors. As a result, every effort was made to reduce testing uncertainties as much as possible. A unique challenge we faced in this area was that there were no industry agreed-upon KPIs or test methodologies available. Everything had to be developed from scratch, largely by us. Test cases and scenarios had to be developed not only to communicate performance to R&D teams but also to non-technical personnel who were unfamiliar with the fine details. To help ensure consistency, application test methodologies were developed to help guide testing in a manner such that results were repeatable regardless of deployment or environment.

There’s No Place Like Home: Variable Environments
In this vein, we have established a number of QA houses that represent realistic home environments in order to thoroughly test our technology with real people in real spaces. Our small and dedicated team focuses on putting themselves in the shoes of the end-user in order to evaluate performance and identify limitations. The industry has established well-defined KPIs such as data throughput, BER (Bit Error Rate), and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) as indicators or measurements of WiFi communication performance. Anyone, including R&D teams, network professionals, technicians, and end users, can utilize common industry tools that measure data throughput or map a network’s RSSI operating environment to evaluate different scenarios. Because there are no industry standard KPIs, methodologies, or tools for WiFi Sensing, it has fallen to us to research and develop evaluation standards for other similar sensing technologies and develop the best possible equivalent. Recognizing this as a significant industry gap, we contributed our experience as well as a preliminary set of KPIs, test methodologies, and tool descriptions for publication in a WBA (Wireless Broadband Alliance) whitepaper. Our goal was for this work to serve as preliminary guidance for other companies looking to evaluate WiFi Sensing technology, as well as to provide input to the industry on what future testing and tools will be required as WiFi’s sensing capabilities expand.

How to Find the Right Setting for a Space
Sensing sensitivity, or the amount of motion needed for our system to classify something as motion, is another challenge inherent in WiFi Sensing. Our flagship technology, WiFi Motion, currently allows users to choose different sensitivity levels based on the type of home that they live in. Users can add filters to analyze types of motion in their home (i.e., pets, fans, etc.), allowing our algorithms to filter out “background noise” to ensure human motion detection is as accurate as possible. Algorithms that help ensure accurate and reliable sensing require tuning that could be unique to the environment or user preference. We want solutions that work in all environments while avoiding any false alarms. To accomplish this, we define and implement real-world scenarios in test environments. Raw sensing data is collected, stored, and labeled as each scenario is executed. Offline analysis and processing of the stored or labeled data allow R&D teams to fine-tune algorithm performance.

Advanced Insights with Localization
WiFi Motion’s localization feature is another crucial piece of the puzzle to ensure our Sensing outputs are accurate. Through localization, our users can determine where in their home motion was detected based on proximity to a connected device. Users can gain additional insights by being able to differentiate motion down to specific rooms. For example, does the fact that senior mom is spending more time than usual in the living room watching TV imply that she isn’t getting enough exercise? Or are your children not getting enough quality sleep because they wake up in the middle of the night? Localization also assists us in guiding users on how to best set up coverage in their homes so that both WiFi and WiFi Motion work as efficiently as possible. Similarly, we are also working on tools that may optimize network coverage, map home environments, and improve smart home functionality.

Rinse & Repeat: The Benefits of Iteration
In the WiFi Sensing space, QA and testing are critical for learning, in-house development, and building out the technology. We can iterate and adjust based on test and simulation data to provide a better end-user experience. As well, QA testing of our final deliverable ensures proper integration by validating overall system level requirements beyond Sensing performance. A solid QA test plan entails creating procedures to ensure a robust platform and comprehensive standards for WiFi Sensing. Standardization efforts will improve technology in tandem with established QA testing protocols. As WiFi itself continues to improve, so will the accuracy and reliability of WiFi Sensing. That means better coverage, localization accuracy, new gateway updates that don’t break things, and smoother firmware push transitions.

Testing the parameters of WiFi Sensing will help secure the technology’s future by ensuring that product quality does not deteriorate over time. To meet expectations, we will be able to introduce new features, capabilities, backward-compatible fixes, and so on. We understand that each WiFi Sensing environment is dynamic and one-of-a-kind. A strong QA process backed up by standardization will ensure companies meet minimal performance requirements.

The Future of WiFi is WiFi Sensing
Telecommunications and cable companies are actively seeking technologies such as WiFi Sensing to increase the value of their subscription packages while also introducing new services that will grow and retain their customer base. WiFi Motion is a powerful WiFi Sensing application into which we have poured years of testing and QA experience to ensure the best end-user experience. With the proliferation of WiFi 6/7 and the standardization efforts of 802.11bf, WiFi Sensing will soon be everywhere. ISPs can enter this growing market now to provide an extraordinarily unique edge. Our current partners are not only integrating motion sensing, they are designing their products around it. Most plan to gradually offer a number of sensing-based applications (such as Home Aware and Caregiver Aware) to improve customer service and engagement. By having actively deployed technology, our partners are gaining extremely valuable data through both testing and usage that will be foundational in improving the technology itself and shaping the future of WiFi. Those jumping into the technology before standardization will have more data to leverage and will find themselves years ahead of the competition.

If you’re a service provider looking for the next big tech breakthrough to help you differentiate, the time has come to act. As we write the WiFi Sensing rulebook through our QA process, early adopters will have the most influence on shaping the WiFi Sensing marketplace.

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August 29, 2022

[Press Release]

Indio Networks Partners with Beetel Teletech Ltd. To Strengthen Its Presence in the Indian WiFi Market

The value-added partnership will bolster Indio’s effort in the wireless networking product and solutions category

Pune, Maharashtra, India:

Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd. announced its new distribution partnership with Beetel Teletech Limited. The partnership authorizes Beetel to manage the distribution and value-added reselling of Indio’s wide range of wireless networking products and solutions, built for managing community and enterprise WiFi networks.

With Beetel’s PAN India presence and extensive supply chain network, this association will strengthen Indio’s presence in the Indian WiFi market which will help Indio’s partners, integrators, and client’s easy access to Indio’s products and solutions.

Commenting on this association, Mr. Rishikesh Ghare, Founder and CEO of Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are excited to welcome Beetel as our value-added distributor in India and expand our product distribution range through them. With Beetel’s strong network and domain expertise, we are confident that this partnership will benefit the customers in the network solutions sphere. We are sure that Beetel will become our valued partner for the long run in India.”

Mr. Sanjeev Patil, Business Unit Head – Networks, Beetel, said, “We are enthusiastic about this partnership with Indio Networks and are ready to take their wide range of wireless networking products and solutions to our customers. Their high-performance, next-generation networking solutions for enterprises will help our customers unlock the power of Wireless, IoT, and Cloud technologies for their businesses. This value-added partnership will help both organizations address the growing demands of uninterrupted and seamless digital experiences through resilient networking solutions. We believe this relationship is an important step as we progress towards our business growth.”

About Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd.
Indio Networks delivers next-generation networking solutions that help its customers unlock the power of Wireless, IoT and Cloud technologies for their business. Indio Networks has been serving customers across the globe since 2005, with a unique blend of products and solutions which deliver the right value at the right price, simplifying connectivity for everyone.

Indio’s products are deployed in over 45 countries and serve tens of millions of users each month. Indio Networks also debuted into TIP OpenWiFi System (India’s first commercial wireless networking solution built on the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP) OpenWiFi stack). Indio’s products and solutions are compatible with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi.

Indio has been an active contributor to open-source community for many years. Indio will continue to work closely with the TIP OpenWiFi community to enhance and deploy TIP OpenWiFi in the coming years.

Discover more on https://www.indionetworks.com and follow Indio Networks on LinkedIn.

About Beetel
Founded in the year 1987, Beetel is one of the oldest and reputed brand names in the Industry, a pioneer in the landline phone category. Beetel is focused on manufacturing as well as distributing a huge range of products in the form of mobile devices, mobile accessories, IT peripherals, enterprise solutions and network solutions, as well as fixed landlines. Beetel distributes a host of iconic brands like Avaya, Poly, Samsung, Huawei, QSC, RADWIN, Ruckus, RAD, and Actelis. Beetel is known for its innovative product solutions and latest technology, which are offered to customers at the most prudent prices. In India, Beetel is spread via 10,000 retailers and 500 channel partners.

Beetel also extends Technical Services (Pre & Post Sales, Installations, Cloud, AMC etc.) helping with designing Solutions to get them ready followed by System Configurations & Programming, covering the entire spectrum of services.

Overseas, Beetel’s services are extended to over 35 countries spread across five continents in the world. The company till date has manufactured over 100 million landline phones, a household Indian brand needing no introduction, which has been serving Indian customers since 1987.

Discover more on: https://www.beetel.in and follow Beetel on LinkedIn.

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What Does it Take for Accurate, Reliable WiFi Sensing?

Indio Networks Partners with Beetel Teletech Ltd. To Strengthen Its Presence in the Indian WiFi Market

The value-added partnership will bolster Indio’s effort in the wireless networking product and solutions category