WayFi Wireless FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about WayFi Wireless, Cellular over Wi-Fi, Passpoint, and indoor cellular coverage.

What is Cellular over Wi-Fi?

Cellular over Wi-Fi is an innovative technology that enhances indoor cellular coverage by seamlessly integrating mobile carrier networks with Wi-Fi infrastructure. This solution allows smartphones to automatically connect to carrier networks using Wi-Fi, eliminating dead zones and improving voice and data performance without requiring costly Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).

What is Passpoint®?

Passpoint is a Wi-Fi Alliance-certified technology that enables seamless, secure connections to Wi-Fi networks. Adopted as an industry standard in 2012, Passpoint allows devices to automatically connect to trusted networks without requiring manual logins, passwords, or captive portals.

How does Passpoint Wi-Fi work?

Passpoint allows any Passpoint-enabled device to automatically and securely connect to an authorized Wi-Fi network using credentials stored in the SIM card. This eliminates the need for users to manually select a Wi-Fi network or enter login credentials. All major U.S. carriers support Passpoint, ensuring a frictionless experience for mobile users.

Is Passpoint Wi-Fi secure?

Yes! Security is a core feature of Passpoint Wi-Fi. Passpoint adheres to the IEEE 802.11u specification and utilizes WPA2 and WPA3 authentication protocols for secure access. Additionally, Passpoint uses encrypted digital certificates (EAP authentication) to verify devices, ensuring the highest level of protection against unauthorized access.

How do I connect my phone to Passpoint Wi-Fi?

Your phone will automatically connect to a Passpoint-enabled network if your carrier supports it. If your device does not connect:

1. Forget any manually saved Wi-Fi networks for the same location.

2. Ensure your Wi-Fi settings allow automatic connection to Passpoint or Hotspot 2.0 networks.

3. Do not manually select the Passpoint SSID—your phone will connect automatically.
   

🚨 Note: Some older Android devices may require manual activation of Passpoint in the Advanced Wi-Fi Settings under "Passpoint" or "Hotspot 2.0."

How do I deploy Passpoint Wi-Fi with WayFi Wireless?

Deploying Passpoint Wi-Fi requires integration with mobile carriers to enable seamless authentication. WayFi Wireless offers a turnkey solution, ensuring a smooth setup:

✔ No additional licensing or hardware required – Works with most enterprise Wi-Fi systems.
✔ Fast setup – Deployment can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.
✔ Carrier and marketplace partnerships – Supports multiple Tier 1 and Tier 2 mobile networks for seamless connectivity.

WayFi Wireless is compatible with a wide range of enterprise Wi-Fi equipment, including but not limited to:

• Alta Labs

• Aruba

• Cambium

• Cisco Meraki

• EdgeCore

• Extreme Networks

• Fortinet

• GL.iNet

• Grandstream

• Huawei (CloudCampus Only)

• HFCL

• IgniteNet

• Juniper Mist

• OpenWRT

• Ruckus (VSZ Only)(Ruckus One Not Supported)

• TIP OpenWiFi

• Ubiquiti

Any enterprise-grade Wi-Fi equipment that supports Hotspot 2.0 / Passpoint can be integrated with WayFi Wireless.

Do I need a separate SSID for Passpoint Wi-Fi?

Yes, a dedicated SSID is required to ensure optimal performance. An added benefit is the reduction of Wi-Fi congestion, as devices will automatically connect without constantly scanning for other networks.

Can I use an existing VLAN for Passpoint traffic?

Yes! Passpoint can be configured to use any VLAN with internet access, including existing guest networks.

Will I have control over data traffic?

✔ Wi-Fi Calling traffic is encrypted and securely tunneled to the carrier’s network, ensuring privacy.
✔ Regular data traffic (web browsing, streaming, etc.) remains under your network policies, allowing you to apply bandwidth management, content filtering, and traffic shaping as needed.

What happens to my existing Wi-Fi networks if I enable Passpoint?

Passpoint operates like a cellular network, meaning that:
✔ Any manually configured 802.1x profiles or already known Wi-Fi (such as employee Wi-Fi) will take priority.
✔ Devices without an existing Wi-Fi profile will automatically connect to Passpoint, improving overall connectivity.

Will enabling Passpoint increase DHCP usage?

Yes, since more devices will connect automatically, DHCP leases will increase. For high-traffic environments, we recommend reducing DHCP lease times to 30 minutes or less to optimize address allocation.

Will Passpoint increase internet traffic?

In most deployments, internet backhaul usage increases by 10% or less, even with significantly more connected devices. In certain environments like retail stores, the increase is as little as 1%.

How Does Cellular over Wi-Fi Compare to DAS?

Cellular over Wi-Fi is the best DAS alternative, providing similar benefits without the high costs and long deployment times.

• Cost:

  • Traditional DAS: High installation and maintenance costs

  • Cellular over Wi-Fi: Low-cost, uses existing Wi-Fi

• Setup Time:

  • Traditional DAS: Takes months to deploy

  • Cellular over Wi-Fi: Can be set up in hours

• Scalability:

  • Traditional DAS: Limited to specific buildings

  • Cellular over Wi-Fi: Easily scales across multiple locations

• Carrier Integration:

  • Traditional DAS: Requires carrier agreements for each installation

  • Cellular over Wi-Fi: Works seamlessly with multiple carriers

🚀 WayFi Wireless enables Cellular over Wi-Fi to provide cost-effective, high-performance coverage—without the need for DAS!

What are the minimum network requirements for Cellular over Wi-Fi?

To ensure a seamless experience, your Wi-Fi network should meet the following:

✔ Wi-Fi Compatibility: Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7
✔ Dedicated VLAN for Passpoint for secure authentication
✔ High-Speed Internet:

• Download Speed: 25 Mbps

• Upload Speed: 10 Mbps

• Latency: < 100ms

• Jitter: < 50ms

• Packet Loss: < 5%

🔎 Test your network with apps like Speedtest.net or Fast.com to verify performance!

What additional services does WayFi Wireless provide?

Along with Passpoint Wi-Fi and Cellular over Wi-Fi, WayFi Wireless offers:

✔ Wi-Fi Calling Optimization – Includes 802.11r fast roaming, Passpoint SSID tuning, and NAT-mode adjustments.
✔ Network Usage Reporting – Monitor Passpoint service performance and receive outage alerts.
✔ Enterprise Connectivity Solutions and Consulting– Tailored services for retail chains, hospitals, hotels, offices, and high-density venues.

My organization is regulated, are WayFi Wireless's services compatible?

WayFi Wireless, excluding hotspot operators, only processes anonymous identifiers of clients and sudo anonymized info about the access points themselves. Our service itself does not require or process any PII or PHI and is compatible with FIPS 140-2 encryption and hashing requirements. WayFi Wireless itself does not meet the regulatory requirements to be applicable to the regulations ourselves. However we have worked with multiple organizations working under strict regulations. Based on this, if your organization is regulated under any of the following regulations we feel confident that our services will be compliant with your organizations data policies and regulatory bodies.

• FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act)

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

• COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

• CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)

• PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)

• LGPD (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados)

• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

If the applicable regulation isn't listed here, that doesn't mean we aren't compatible with it. Please contact us to learn more.

Using cellular over WiFi has improved my connectivity significantly. Highly recommend this service for reliable communication.

John D.

The alternative cellular service over WiFi is fantastic! It keeps me connected without interruptions or issues.

Sarah K.

★★★★★

★★★★★