The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Generic Access Network (GAN) standard is at the heart of Smart Wi-Fi technology. The GAN standard provides the mechanism for mobile operators to extend their services over any broadband IP access network.

Consumers’ use of smartphones for accessing the mobile internet is increasing exponentially, leading to greater demand on mobile networks for improved indoor coverage.  As a result, mobile service providers are turning to Wi-Fi to increase network capacity and improve 3G coverage in the places where subscribers spend most of their time – at home, offices and hotspot locations.   

With Smart Wi-Fi, all mobile services (voice, data, Internet) are routed over Wi-Fi and the broadband access network.  As a result, mobile operators can leverage existing Wi-Fi access points as seamless extensions of the mobile network, delivering high-quality, low-cost mobile services to subscribers. 

Advantages for Operators:

• Churn reduction through improved coverage. 
• Rather than using Wi-Fi to simply route web services such as YouTube, Facebook, Skype and others to the Internet, Smart Wi-Fi enables all mobile services to be delivered over Wi-Fi.  As a result, subscribers can receive ‘five bars’ of coverage from existing access points.  
• Increase network capacity. By routing all traffic over Wi-Fi and IP, mobile operators are able to completely disengage smartphones from the outdoor macro network, freeing up valuable spectrum, power and signaling capacity for truly mobile smartphones.
• Competitive VoIP response. Mobile operators can develop specialized calling plans for subscribers when they are connected over Wi-Fi and offer alternative Smart Wi-Fi calling service plans to address the competitive threat posed by Skype and other VoIP services.  

Advantages for Subscribers:

• Improved indoor 3G coverage.  Smart Wi-Fi enables subscribers with poor or little macro network coverage to make and receive mobile calls via existing Wi-Fi access points in the home, office and public hotspots.  
• Faster access to Internet/data services.  Smart Wi-Fi provides unfettered high-speed access to mobile data services that subscribers want most. 
• Improved battery performance.  With Smart Wi-Fi, handsets can transmit at lower power, thereby increasing handset talk and standby times.