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Hotspot 2.0

By Stephen J. Bigelow

What is Hotspot 2.0?

Hotspot 2.0, also known as Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint, is a standard for public-access Wi-Fi that enables seamless roaming among Wi-Fi networks and between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The Wi-Fi Alliance and the Wireless Broadband Association developed Hotspot 2.0 to enable the seamless handoff of traffic without requiring additional user sign-on and authentication.

Hotspot 2.0 is based on the IEEE 802.11u standard, which is a set of protocols published in February 2011 that allows cellular-like roaming behavior for mobile devices as well as increased Wi-Fi bandwidth and service on demand for wireless-equipped devices.

If the device supports 802.11u and is currently subscribed to a Hotspot 2.0 service from a service provider, it automatically connects to an available Hotspot 2.0 network and roams like how a cellphone moves seamlessly between cell towers, offering service coverage throughout a given area. The steps involved in wireless network discovery, registration, provisioning and access are automated so that little or no manual configuration is needed to connect and stay connected to the Wi-Fi network.

How does Hotspot 2.0 work?

A typical hotspot is a wireless local area network node that provides internet connectivity and virtual private network access from a single location for users of devices with wireless connectivity. Hotspots are common in hotels, airports, libraries and coffee shops. Normally a user must connect manually to a hotspot by checking their wireless connection options, selecting one and entering authentication information (usually a simple password). The physical connectivity zone is determined by the range of the wireless access devices owned by the establishment. In most cases, the radius is about 100 to 200 meters.

Hotspot 2.0 is an evolutionary step in wireless networking designed to help users overcome some annoyances of traditional wireless hotspots. The keys to Hotspot 2.0 are roaming and automation services. Roaming lets wireless mobile devices connect automatically to the nearest Hotspot 2.0 whenever the device is in range. Automation establishes the wireless connection automatically without deliberate user selection or other actions. Hotspot 2.0 emphasizes the meaningful organization of wireless hotspots throughout buildings, campuses, metropolitan areas and beyond.

As a user moves beyond the range of one wireless hotspot and into the range of another, the wireless connection is transferred to the better point of connection, letting the user roam and receive services throughout a much larger physical area than a single traditional wireless access point (AP) could provide. This is fundamentally the same way that cellular service operates, and the wireless roaming and handoff process can continue if there's service coverage -- a hotspot is available -- from a provider.

Hotspot 2.0 requires the following elements to function properly:

Key features of Hotspot 2.0

Some of the most notable features of Hotspot 2.0 include the following:

How to use Hotspot 2.0 networks

Users and technicians can easily determine whether a Windows 10 or 11 PC supports Hotspot 2.0 by checking for Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) Service Information Discovery. This is the service needed by Wi-Fi hotspot services such as Passpoint. Support for ANQP services can be found by interrogating the PC's wireless capabilities using the following steps:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Select Search and look for Command Prompt.
  3. Launch the command prompt. Select Run as Administrator, if necessary.
  4. Type netsh wlan show wirelesscapabilities and press Enter.

The command returns a wealth of details about the computer's wireless features and functionality. Look for the ANQP Service Information Discovery entry, which is the third from the bottom in Figure 1. If the response is "Supported," the device should support Hotspot 2.0.

Similarly, users can determine whether an Android smartphone supports Hotspot 2.0 by opening Advanced Wi-Fi network settings and locating a Hotspot 2.0 entry. If the entry is present -- regardless of whether the feature is enabled or disabled -- the Android device should support the service. Otherwise, the device likely won't support Hotspot 2.0.

Windows 10 provides a direct way to enable or disable Hotspot 2.0 through the Wi-Fi dialog in the computer's "Settings" app. However, Windows 11 eliminates this direct Hotspot 2.0 control and enables Hotspot 2.0 by default. Users simply select the available Hotspot 2.0-enabled network from the list of available or nearby wireless networks, as shown in Figure 2. Once the user enters their one-time credentials, the computer should be on the Passpoint-enabled network.

The process is similar on Android smart devices. Open the Wi-Fi settings on the device, select the desired Hotspot 2.0 network, and enter one-time credentials. The device should then have access to the Hotspot 2.0 network.

Benefits of Hotspot 2.0

Hotspot 2.0 touts the following benefits for mobile device users:

Disadvantages of Hotspot 2.0

Despite the features and benefits promised in Hotspot 2.0 technology, there are several potential limitations and disadvantages to consider:

How does Hotspot 2.0 compare to traditional public Wi-Fi networks?

Hotspot 2.0 isn't a revolution in wireless networking but, rather, an evolutionary step in wireless networking technology that adds protocols to support the roaming and automation capabilities required for larger integrated wireless network architectures. Hotspot 2.0 doesn't make significant changes to Wi-Fi bandwidth or latency, and wireless components that are Hotspot 2.0-compliant should be fully backward compatible with traditional single-network Wi-Fi deployments.

Learn how the internet and Wi-Fi compare and contrast. Distinguishing between the two is important to ensure network administrators can speed up provided support when necessary.

30 May 2013

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