Alcatel-Lucent Wi-Fi Solution Targets All Operators

lightRadio Wi-Fi is a combination of wireless networking technology and intelligent software Alcatel-Lucent says makes it simpler for people using any kind of wireless-connected device to access the Internet over secure Wi-Fi connections in homes or hot-spot locations.

lightRadio Wi-Fi lets subscribers switch automatically from a wireless service to residential or public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots without having to log in each time. According to Alcatel-Lucent, this is done in three ways: by using software that identifies and connects people to a ‘trusted’ network automatically, by introducing new capabilities into service provider networks to manage the transition between Wi-Fi and wireless networks, and by integrating Wi-Fi directly into small-cell base stations and cellular networks.

With security being such a concern, “lightRadio Wi-Fi always finds the most ‘trusted’ network. lightRadio Wi-Fi offers a radical departure from the traditional way that mobile operators apply Wi-Fi: today it is often used to ‘offload’ traffic from congested cellular networks,” the company says. “By enabling cellular subscribers to stay within their network and service plan, it will allow service providers to maintain use of their services, creating revenue, independent of how the customer is connected.”

The lightRadio Wi-Fi approach also is applicable for fixed-line and cable service providers, allowing them to extend wireless coverage to existing subscribers without investing in more spectrum or wireless infrastructure.