Conference Themes

Our mission is to support and promote Wi-Fi for everyone, everywhere. To do that we’re bringing together the entire Wi-Fi industry in a forum for tackling all the hot issues in Wi-Fi. Here are just some of our conference themes for Wi-Fi NOW:Amsterdam:

  • Disruption or convergence?

We’ve invited independent, thought-leading analysts to present their views – and we’ll hear from some of the world’s biggest operators embracing Wi-Fi. Will Wi-Fi disrupt the mobile paradigm, and if so how? Or will carriers converge fixed, mobile, & Wi-Fi to stay competitive and give consumers what they want?

  • New Wi-Fi business models (monetization)

Monetization with ad-tech & analytics is moving from experimentation to real business value. Free & freemium Wi-Fi can be profitable. We look at all the new technology out there, the challenges, and the best ways to address the mass market.

  • A new breed of Wi-Fi service providers: From cable to Wi-Fi First

Up-selling, retention, and on-boarding are just some of the ways cable operators are monetizing Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, a new breed of ‘Wi-Fi First’ MVNOs are on the move in America and getting ready to take on Europe. We take a close look at the economics and technology of ‘Wi-Fi First’

  • Hotspot 2.0 (NGH) or OTT?

Seamless connectivity, security, and roaming. That’s what Hotspot 2.0 (NGH) provides. But Hotspot 2.0 is not the only option out there. We take a look at how intelligent device clients & apps are gathering momentum among carriers and other types of service providers.

  • Performance, performance, performance

New Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ac Wave 2 are blazingly fast – but not all Wi-Fi is created equal. We look at all the great innovations out there for boosting performance and taking Wi-Fi services to the next level indoor and out.

  • Consumer engagement for venues

Retailers & venues of all kinds are looking for new ways of attracting & engaging consumers. A host of creative start-ups and some big vendors are on track to deliver the next generation connected consumer experience with Wi-Fi.

  • High-density Wi-Fi

Stadiums, airports, transport hubs, entertainment venues – all of these require something special when it comes to delivering quality Wi-Fi to tens of thousands of people in a small space. We will also take a look at intelligent content delivery for high-density Wi-Fi – and not least how to monetize all of the above

Wi-Fi that matters: Cities, governments, institutions

Cities have a great deal to gain from offering free public Wi-Fi and some are already doing it and doing it well. Education, government, and institutions of all kinds are embracing seamless Wi-Fi services like never before. We talk to the experts about how to get all of that right – and about visions for the future.

  • Wi-Fi calling for carriers

Wi-Fi calling is a done deal for many Tier 1 carriers – but there’s more than one way to build the service. We will be zooming in on the business case, the retention value, and the technology with the help of leading carriers using Wi-Fi calling today.

  • Security in focus

Wi-Fi security is a big deal because it’s a real threat to the proliferation of public access Wi-Fi. With help from some of the world’s leading security experts and specialised technology vendors, we will take on the Wi-Fi security challenge.

  • Building the perfect Wi-Fi core network

A Wi-Fi core network is the heart of your service fabric – whether you are a cable operator, an MNO, or any other type of service provider. And architectures are quite different depending on what you want to achieve. The established vendors and the challengers will be on hand for a deep-dive into Wi-Fi core technology.

  • LTE-U/LAA vs. Wi-Fi – is it a real threat to Wi-Fi?

Well – I probably don’t have to tell you what my opinion is on this. But there’s still a big telecoms community out there pushing LTE-U and LAA. We will have a look at what this technology can and can’t do and if it’s a threat to the continued success of Wi-Fi.