Mobile operators are increasingly relying on Wi-Fi networks, both directly and indirectly, to support their businesses. Out of the massive global Wi-Fi coverage in 2020, at least 6 million public locations will support Hotspot 2.0 features, according to a new market research report by ABI Research.
Although a number of operators have already upgraded or committed to upgrade their networks to support Hotspot 2.0, the adoption remains slow, said the market research firm. To add to this, Operators are still lacking the tools to generate revenue streams from this technology, added ABI Reserach.
The deployment of Hotspot 2.0 which offers seamless discovery and access can potentially enhance the user experience and attract more engagement. The technology will also evolve to allow operators to provide higher flexibility for supporting different policies, which in turn, will encourage implementation of innovative business models, and ultimately wider market adoption.
At the same time, the rise of IMS-enabled Wi-Fi calling has boosted the confidence in Wi-Fi voice capability and is suggesting even a larger role for Wi-Fi technologies in 4G and 5G networks. According to ABI Research, many operators that have tapped the technology in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong, have launched the service with VoLTE side by side, aiming for a complete seamless voice experience and driving the usage to five-fold by next year.
Ahmed Ali, Research Analyst at ABI Research.
Overall, investment in carrier Wi-Fi solutions remains significant despite the emergence of seemingly competing technologies like LTE-U and LAA. User demands as well as competition from non-telecom operators (e.g., cablecos) drive market activity and business case creation.
