The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has published an updated framework for managing residential Wi‑Fi networks.
The revised report, “Operator Managed Wi‑Fi (OMWi): Reference Architecture and Requirements,” introduces enhanced specifications and includes open‑source implementations from partners such as the prpl Foundation and RDK‑B.
The framework aligns multiple industry standards, including Wi‑Fi Alliance’s Wi‑Fi EasyMesh and Wi‑Fi CERTIFIED Data Elements, together with Broadband Forum’s User Services Platform (USP) Data Models, creating a cohesive approach for operators and vendors.
Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the WBA, said the updated OMWi framework is an important step in enabling operators to better manage the in‑home Wi‑Fi experience, which is now the primary way devices connect to the internet at home.
“Providing open‑source OMWi‑compliant implementations will foster cross‑industry interoperability for data collection, remote management and mesh formation,” Rodrigues added.
Industry participants including Airties, Nokia, Deutsche Telekom and CommScope have showcased solutions based on the architecture, demonstrating growing support across the market.
The framework tackles several key areas of residential Wi‑Fi management: standardized management protocols, an improved architecture for multi‑AP mesh networks, simplified deployment workflows and advanced self‑healing capabilities to maintain performance and reliability.
Metin Taskin, WBA Board Member and CEO of Airties, commented that OMWi 2.0 defines the industry standards and open‑source building blocks needed to simplify integrations and deployments, freeing ISPs to concentrate on improving broadband quality of experience for their customers.
Nokia, which co‑chairs the WBA OMWi Reference Architecture working group, has already rolled out the first production deployment of its Corteca Home Controller with Singtel, offering end‑to‑end Wi‑Fi management based on the OMWi framework.
Pedro Caldeira dos Santos, Executive Head of Broadband Products and Services at Deutsche Telekom, said the company is proud to contribute to the OMWi initiative, calling it a transformative development for residential Wi‑Fi.
“By embracing open standards and promoting cross‑industry collaboration, the OMWi framework equips operators to deliver a seamless, high‑quality Wi‑Fi experience to millions of customers worldwide,” he said, emphasizing Deutsche Telekom’s commitment to innovation and interoperability.
Looking ahead, the WBA plans to launch Phase 3 in 2025, introducing a compliance programme that will include expanded telemetry features and an endorsed testing suite. This programme will create a clear path for vendors and service providers to achieve OMWi certification.
(Photo by Jadon Kelly)
Related: Vodafone is exploring quantum computing for network optimisation.
Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn more about Digital Transformation Week, which takes place in Amsterdam, California and London. The event is co‑located with IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo and other conferences focused on enterprise technology.
Discover additional enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge.