Jisc Wi-Fi Roaming Service April 2016

Why having data roaming? Today’s research and education model is international, immediate, and virtual with the increasing demand of always-on connectivity beyond education premises. Recent development in mobile access technologies can provide the possibility of having round-the-clock availability of the rich digital resources beyond the physical walls of the institutions. However, this eventually can lead to a very high bills for using high data rate services and excessive use of bandwidth. Situation gets even worse for roaming users and usually the fear of high pricing stops users from having access to data resources while they are out of coverage of their home network.

Why not just using eduroam? eduroam is a competent solution for the campus-based Internet access for roaming users. However, eduroam has limited footprint in public area. An ever-growing demand of users for accessing online resources, in their convenient time and place imposes the need of having the Internet connection, with the similar quality of experience of using campus network, beyond the institutions’ premises.

Why not using cellular roaming? Very expensive, one university had to pay £10k just for one user’s roaming bill! One might argue that by 2017 the data roaming charge will be abolished in Europe. Even if that proposal could overcome the mobile operators’ resistance and go through on time, the customers are still bound to their data allowance and will face extra charges if they pass their data cap. Moreover, the rule only applies to Europe and other countries like USA and China which are frequently visited by researchers and academic staff are not part of this scheme.

What is Jisc Wi-Fi Roaming? To fulfil this demand, we have been exploring market to find an affordable, invisible and reliable data connectivity solution for places where eduroam is not available but eduroam users are spending noticeable amount of their time; planes, trains, hotels, airports, cafes, and other public places. The proposed Jisc Wi-Fi Roaming will provide an un-limited data access through 3rd party in significantly lower price via 50 million hotspots in over 100 countries. This allows users to stay connected to the information and people that matter most, whenever they need it. Moreover, this service will enable them to use more affordable Wi-Fi connectivity as their first choice and use expensive cellular networks only to fit the gaps; Wi-Fi First service.  The possibility of using eduroam credentials for user authentication through their home institutions can enhance the user experience.

Unlimited Wi-Fi Roaming Service Selecting the world’s largest Wi-Fi hotspot aggregator 50M Hotspots in 100 countries Unlimited Wi-Fi data access on unlimited number of devices per user (Flat rate) Available at airports, hotels, trains, planes,etc Supporting single-sign on Using eduroam credential to get access Suitable for research& academic staff, managers, postgraduates, etc.

Service Coverage 100 Countries | 50 Million Hotspots 94% coverage of the world’s Top-100 paid airports Over 2,700 Wi-Fi equipped planes Over 800 Wi-Fi equipped trains 85,000 Hotel and Convention Center Venues London 7500 Over 150 Wi-Fi Network Partners 100 Countries | 50 Million Hotspots

Potential Users Senior managers ; Roaming academic; Research and postgraduate (affordable value added service to universities’ package); Apprentices; Transnational & international students; etc. *By having 5M Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK, iPass is one of biggest WiFi providers in the UK

Concluding remarks Saving roaming charge and/or exceeding data allowance penalty charge; Providing Wi-Fi First service by offering affordable unlimited data connectivity for users in public areas (e.g., airports, flights, trains, …) and reducing users’ mobile data connectivity cost; Providing single-sign-on integration with eduroam, resulting in convenience, simplicity and increasing perceived value; Significant saving for yearly subscription of service through Jisc role in aggregating the demands in sector; Empowering institutions to encourage productivity and supporting new ways of working.

Find out more… Esmat.Mirzamany@jisc.ac.uk Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND