The report offers best practice advice on developing a venue’s business case for public Wi-Fi, including how to improve user engagement with the use of OpenRoaming and Passpoint technology over legacy captive portal Wi-Fi.

User engagement is a critical element of public Wi-Fi provision. Venues need to understand the users who are connecting to their public Wi-Fi network, as they have a variety of needs ranging from regulatory compliance to commercial models that necessitate engagement.

Likewise, users need to be able to use and interact with the Wi-Fi and with the brand that is providing the Wi-Fi.

Unlike captive portals, once a device has been successfully onboarded to an OpenRoaming/Passpoint compliant network, the connection is more secure and future connections will be automatic, while still retaining the ability for venues and network owners to engage with users.

For venues and public Wi-Fi network owners looking to improve engagement with users, the report highlights best practice advice on establishing user needs, network requirements, processes flows, onboarding and device provisioning.

Drivers for aiming for better user engagement

The report underscores the critical need for industry stakeholders to prioritize user engagement in Wi-Fi network design and operation.

By understanding and addressing the requirements of both venues and users, businesses can enhance the overall user experience, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue opportunities.

The benefits for operators and venues that improve user engagement include:

• Cost Reduction & Cost Control: Implementing efficient onboarding processes and standardized interfaces can help reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining Wi-Fi networks, especially for venues with high user traffic.
• Increased Revenue Opportunities: By offering seamless and engaging user experiences, venues can attract more users, leading to potential revenue streams through advertising, pay-as-you-go models, or partnerships with third parties and roaming services. For instance, the adoption of OpenRoaming facilitates continuous Wi-Fi connectivity in stores and retail environments, significantly enhancing the shopping experience. It allows customers to seamlessly connect without manual logins, paving the way for real-time promotions and communications that engage customers instantly, without the need for portal logins.
• Regulatory Compliance: Understanding and implementing best practices for user engagement can help industry players comply with regulatory requirements related to user privacy, data protection, and network security. For example, certain regulatory bodies and governments mandate that service providers require users to register for Wi-Fi access. This registration helps criminal investigations trace activities where needed. OpenRoaming streamlines this process by enabling automated login once a profile is downloaded.
• Competitive Advantage: Industry players that excel in user engagement and provide a seamless Wi-Fi experience can gain a competitive edge in the market, attracting more customers and partners.
• Wi-Fi roaming: Facilitated by the WBA’s OpenRoaming Federation, Wi-Fi roaming offers venues a valuable revenue stream and enhanced user experience. It simplifies Wi-Fi connectivity for users, ensuring secure network access and increasing customer satisfaction. Roaming can also be a form of user exchange, allowing seamless connectivity across partnerships, enriching and simplifying the user experience. GDPR guidelines are implemented in OpenRoaming, ensuring customer data privacy and security, which is crucial for maintaining trust and compliance.

Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said:

“This report underscores the critical need for industry stakeholders to prioritize user engagement in Wi-Fi network design and operation. By understanding and addressing the requirements of both venues and users, businesses can enhance the overall user experience, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue opportunities.  WBA encourages industry players to consider the best practices identified in the report with different business models applicable to their public Wi-Fi deployment. Enhancing the user journey and user engagement in Wi-Fi networks can ultimately improve the overall user experience and drive business success.”

The report includes insights from industry experts from GlobalReach Technology, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Cityroam, Google, Marriott International, Single Digits, and other WBA members.

Thomas Locke, chief technology officer, GlobalReach Technology, said: 

“Due to the continued success of OpenRoaming and the wider market adoption of technologies like Passpoint, users are now increasingly connecting seamlessly and securely to public Wi-Fi networks. That being said, the desire for brands and users to interact in real-time on a proximity-based level has never been stronger. This report outlines the best practices for brands to offer an enhanced user experience through direct engagement via a secure Passpoint based public Wi-Fi network.”

Ben Roberts, Group Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, 

“Public Wi-Fi business cases are uniquely challenging in emerging markets, and success requires balancing the needs of the Wi-Fi users with those of the network owner. Technology changes all the time; one such example being the emergence of more devices that support Passpoint. These changes open up possibilities for network owners to consider new forms of user engagement. This report provides a reference for network owners and venues to understand the tools available to them to best achieve their business goals while optimizing the user experience.”

Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has launched two new fully redundant terrestrial routes – Kenya to Ethiopia and Zambia to Malawi.

This significant achievement will allow for greater efficiency and reliable regional connectivity, both key to the economic development of these countries.

Spanning over 1000 km, the fibre link between Kenya and Ethiopia offers businesses in Ethiopia access to data centres and cloud in Nairobi, Kenya, ensuring that data doesn’t leave the continent. In addition, this link is further supported by the cross-border 711 km link between Zambia and Malawi, providing a direct and reliable connection to content caches and data centres in South Africa.

According to Adil El Youssefi- CEO Rest of Africa at Liquid Intelligent Technologies, “Kenyan and Ethiopian businesses are rapidly adopting digital technologies, and this new link will enable trade and investment between these two great nations in our region. 

For Liquid Kenya, we see this growing demand being catalysed by the Kenya Kwanza Government’s Digital Superhighway Initiative, and this 1000 km of newly lit fibre is our first contribution to the private sector investment into this flagship project”.

In partnership with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and Ethiopia Electric Power (EEP), Liquid’s new link connects Nairobi and Mega, a town in southern Ethiopia, and provides a capacity of four terabytes per second.

Complementing the existing terrestrial routes across this border, the Kenya-Ethiopia route will now have carrier-grade connectivity, which serves to rapidly expand data traffic on this important route.  As Liquid doubles down on its investment in Ethiopia, it expands on its long-standing commitment to ignite transformation, job creation and growth on the continent.

“All initiatives undertaken by businesses under Cassava Technologies work towards realising our vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind. The completion of these fibre links is yet another milestone achieved by Liquid as it continues to lay the foundations of economic growth through increased access to high-speed connectivity,” says Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.

The fibre network will provide Kenya and Ethiopia with measurable benefits in terms of connectivity performance and accessibility as it connects the underserved towns of Suswa, Sereolipi, Ndaragwa and Marsabit, as well as Nairobi and Mega.

Liquid aims to catalyse African growth through its intelligent fibre backbone, providing cost-effective, regional internet connectivity that enhances digital transformation.

These milestones foster richer economic and technological ties across countries and the continent, helping African companies and individuals realise their potential within the digital economy on a local and global scale.

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The announcement was made during the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in support of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s initiative to drive investment into the country.

Through this investment, Cassava, which has operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the USA and Latin America, will continue to bring internationally recognised services and products to South Africa through the group’s renewable energy, cloud & cyber security, data centres and broadband connectivity business units. 

South Africa accounts for the largest proportion of Africa’s industrial GDP with a sophisticated and growing ICT sector. The country’s unique combination of highly developed first-world economic infrastructure and a stable macro-economic environment affords businesses like ours a conducive investment environment in which we can partner with the government to drive economic development and create jobs,” stated Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.  

Cassava’s investment pledge comprises key projects, including the expansion of the Liquid Intelligent Technologies fibre network, the extension of Africa Data Centres capacity and footprint, enhanced cloud and cyber security capacity, and the rollout of clean, renewable energy by Distributed Power Africa in South Africa. 

South Africa’s $6.75 billion ICT sector represents one of Africa’s most investment-attractive and growth-bound industries today. The world bank estimates that South Africa’s internet penetration rate has doubled over the last decade, standing at 70%. While the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa reports that the national population coverage for 4G/LTE was at 97.7% in 2021, placing the nation years ahead of its peers in sub-Saharan Africa.  

Cassava’s investments will contribute towards positioning South Africa as an attractive investment destination and enable greater inclusion of all South Africans consistent with Cassava’s vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.

The MoU, signed with the Government of Zambia, will focus on accelerating the country’s digital transformation and provide reliable and affordable connectivity to all Zambians.

Building on Liquid’s already extensive investments made since it opened its doors in Zambia in 2011, the planned expansion of Liquid’s fibre network will see the connection of more towns across the country, and the physical infrastructure needed to connect schools and clinics along Liquid’s network will also be deployed. 

The group will also be working with the government to offer public and private cloud, and cyber security solutions to support the digitisation of government services. These activities and investments, coupled with further expansion of the network across Zambia’s borders will position Zambia as a strong hub of digital activity in the region.

According to the Zambia Inclusive Digital Economy Status Report 2022, only 53% of Zambians are digitally-included. The lack of connectivity and the impact it has on the country’s socio-economic development is the main reason why the Zambian government has prioritised the country’s digital transformation.

“We recognize the significant efforts that the Zambian government is making to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and share His Excellency, President Hichilema’s vision for the development of Zambia’s digital economy. Given the conducive investment environment, we are committed to further investments in Zambia’s digital infrastructure” said Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO, Cassava Technologies.

“The Liquid Zambia team is excited to be continuing our partnership with the Zambian government. Zambia is our home, and we are committed to seeing the country thrive. Being able to contribute meaningfully to its socio-economic growth and infrastructural development by sharing our knowledge and skills, and through the provision of the infrastructure and services needed by Zambian in this growth phase is important to us,” said Mark Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Zambia.

The MOU was signed by Hon. Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, and Nic Rudnick, Group Deputy Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, on Tuesday, the 7th of March, during the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which took place in Doha, Qatar, from the 5th to the 9th of March.

With the signing of this MOU, Liquid Zambia reaffirms its commitment to Zambia’s digital transformation and economic growth, which is part of its broader mission to connect Africa and bridge the digital divide across the continent, leaving no African left behind.

Cysiv MEA specialises in providing enterprise cloud and cybersecurity services to some of Egypt’s leading companies, particularly in the financial services sector.

The acquisition allows the London-based group with operations in Africa, UK, the US and Latin America, to bring some of the best global cloud and cyber security products to the Egyptian market. Liquid is a recognised integrator on behalf of some of the biggest technology companies in the world.

The organisation will rebrand Cysiv MEA to ‘Liquid C2’ to align it with its global cloud and cybersecurity identity. Liquid plans to significantly grow the Egyptian business by tapping into the wealth of local tech talent, making Egypt a key hub for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

“Since our founding in 2008 as SecureMisr, our mission has been to empower customers with world-class cloud & cyber security services and solutions that pre-emptively protect against attacks and loss of digital assets caused by an ever-evolving threat landscape, before it affects the business,” said Sherif Shaltout, VP of Operations, Cysiv MEA. 

“We are thrilled to be joining the Liquid family and to be part of an industry-leading brand like Liquid C2. We are now in an even stronger position to enable our enterprise customers in Egypt and the MENA region to accelerate their digital transformation whilst at the same time acquiring more sophisticated tools to deal with ever-increasing threats through our expanded cloud and cyber security services portfolio,’’ he added.

“Liquid recognises the critical role Cysiv MEA has been playing in the cloud and cyber security industry in Egypt and the region. Our main task as a group is to support them in bringing more cyber security tools for our customers as they face an increasingly hostile global threat environment from cybercriminals and nation-state sponsored attackers. This will ensure that their business is protected whilst also meeting the demands for global compliance requirements. We will build on the strong market position, experienced leadership, in-depth industry knowledge, world-class team, and customer-centric philosophy that has been  synonymous with the Liquid C2 brand,” concluded David Behr, CEO of Liquid C2.

Working together through Microsoft’s Airband initiative, the new collaboration will initially target regions that include but are not limited to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Additionally, the partnership will allow for increased proliferation of high-speed connectivity to the farthest parts of Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Working together, the companies will empower individuals and businesses in some of the United Nations’ least developed countries to help bridge the digital divide and assist in transitioning more African countries into the digital economy.

“Access to high-speed connectivity is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. With a fibre backbone of over 100,000 km across the continent, Liquid is uniquely positioned to bring high-speed connectivity to the remotest of communities. Our vision is to create a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, and this is just one more investment from us to realise the vision,” said Nic Rudnick, Group Deputy Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

The effort will be discussed during a panel discussion at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). According to the International Telecommunication Union, roughly 2.7 billion people globally remain unconnected because it’s either unavailable or they can’t afford it. Rural areas around the world are especially disadvantaged, as traditional telecom infrastructure fails to go the final mile in low-density regions.

“Internet access is a fundamental right, enabling economic opportunity and development. This new collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies builds upon our existing collaboration to catalyze economic growth and development in Africa, enabling us to accelerate our efforts to extend high-speed internet to a quarter of a billion people by the end of 2025, including 100 million in Africa.” said Vickie Robinson, General Manager of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. “We know strategic partnerships are key to advancing access to connectivity and digital equity, especially in the world’s most critical markets.”

Microsoft’s Airband Initiative partners with a wide-ranging ecosystem of organizations to design, implement and support programs that deliver unique connectivity solutions designed for local communities and their challenges. This includes working with broadband providers, local ISPs, energy partners, international organizations and local governments to deliver internet access in unserved or underserved communities worldwide.  

While the accelerated adoption of digital technologies on the continent has increased exponentially, it has also exacerbated the digital divide in Africa, as none of these technologies can be optimally used unless Africans have access to high-speed connectivity. These efforts by Microsoft and Liquid will play a critical role in helping to secure the future of Africans on the continent, thus paving the way for a true, digitally inclusive economy.

Telrad has a significant presence in 13 countries across the Middle East, South America, United States, Eastern Europe, Asia and provides high-quality technology products and services for global businesses and governments. 

The company offers innovative technology solutions, including networking, cloud infrastructure, information technology, geoinformatics and cybersecurity.

Liquid has a unique ecosystem of intelligent technologies which bring high-speed and reliable cross-border connectivity, colocation, cloud, cybersecurity and digital services to mobile carriers and blue-chip enterprises. 

With a wholly-owned, open-access fibre network spanning 100,000 km, Liquid provides both local and regional connectivity. The terrestrial infrastructure is augmented by a vast network of subsea cables complementing Liquid’s international connectivity footprint. 

Liquid’s cloud solutions include networking, cloud voice, cloud applications as well as cloud platforms, whilst its cyber security services include cyber defence, secure access and secure data.

According to Nic Rudnick, Deputy Chairman, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, “Earlier this year, Liquid had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Telrad, and I am pleased that we have concluded this transaction. We look forward to the seamless integration of Telrad’s strong R&D programme and technology solutions in cyber security, data centres and wireless access technology with Liquid’s existing portfolio of solutions. Liquid and Telrad share similar ideologies of empowering customers through cost-effective connectivity and technology solutions. Together we will continue to digitally transform businesses globally”.

Mr Moti Elmaliach, Telrad’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Telrad has an incredibly strong track record of success and rich history of innovation. We are excited to join forces and leverage Telrad’s expertise across the full technology value chain along with that of Liquid and the wider Cassava group. This is an exciting step for Telrad,” said Elmaliach, “and an opportunity to innovate and grow exponentially in both the Israeli and international markets”.

Rudnick added, “Telrad will continue to be led by Mr Moti Elmaliach as CEO, who will also be appointed to the group’s executive team and will be part of the international growth of the Liquid business globally”.

Cassava was founded by African entrepreneur, Strive Masiyiwa. The group’s Executive Chairman, Masiyiwa also serves on several international boards including Unilever Plc, Netflix, the Global Advisory Board for Bank of America, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is also a longstanding board member of the United States Holocaust Museum’s Committee on Conscience.

Telrad leverages technology to provide innovative solutions to its global clientele focused on businesses such as networking, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, data centres, information technology, geoinformatics, and education.

The acquisition will bolster the emergence of Telrad’s differentiated technology solutions with Liquids’ unique, integrated platform of digital infrastructure and services. Telrad’s technology solutions and extensive R&D capabilities, including two dedicated R&D centers, will complement Liquids’ offerings and support its long-term growth strategy.

The new development will also enhance the growth of Liquid’s B2B product segments and its geographic reach, holding up the advantage of Telrad’s presence in 13 countries across the Middle East, South America, United States, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Nic Rudnick, Group Chief Executive Officer of Liquid, said: “Telrad’s advanced proprietary technology in areas including cyber security, data centres and wireless access technology will be a great asset to Liquid’s digital solutions. Together, we will be able to leverage our pan-continental infrastructure to scale innovative, technology solutions and expand the breadth of our digital services offerings across and beyond Africa.”

Telrad Chief Executive Officer, Moti Elmaliach, said: “Liquid has an incredibly strong track record of success and a rich history of innovation. We are excited to join forces and to leverage Liquid’s expertise across the full technology value chain, from the subsea cable to the last mile. This is an exciting step for Telrad, our team and the customers we serve.

Many leading global technology companies have chosen Liquid Intelligent Technologies as their trusted partner to accelerate digital transformation and we look forward to delivering on this shared ambition together.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including Telrad shareholder approval.