Aptilo Secures Wi-Fi Networks

Providing operators with a carrier-grade solution for offloading mobile data to Wi-Fi, Aptilo Networks has now introduced the Aptilo SIM Authentication Server, which authenticates users via the SIM card in their mobile device as they move from a 3G/LTE network to a Wi-Fi network.

Users are authenticated based on the information retrieved from the Home Location Register (HLR) or Home Subscriber Server (HSS), which reside in the mobile core of the 3G/LTE network.??

One of the key benefits of using SIM authentication is that it utilizes 802.1x technology, which is a standard method for encrypting user credentials and user data in the Wi-Fi session. In this manner the Wi-Fi networks become as secure as the 3G network, virtually eliminating the risk of eavesdropping or confidential information falling into the wrong hands.??

The Aptilo SIM Authentication Server is one of the two pillars of Aptilo’s mobile data offloading solution; the Aptilo Service Management Platform – currently enabling carrier-class Wi-Fi networks for more than 120 operators worldwide – is the other. The pre-enabled integration between these two systems provides a mobile data offloading solution for mobile operators. For users, this means an “invisible” and uninterrupted transfer from the cellular network to Wi-Fi. For mobile operators, this tight integration means that they can optimize resources across their cellular and Wi-Fi networks as users will automatically flow between the two and policy and charging control will be maintained.