Nokia and Sonera have signed an agreement to offer Wireless LAN (WLAN) technology for access to Internet and corporate intranet services. The Nokia Operator Wireless LAN solution will allow Sonera to offer wireless broadband Internet access with SIM-based authentication in public places such as airports and hotels. Sonera already provides WLAN-based Internet access to both public and corporate premises with the Sonera wGate service. By the end of 2002, the service will be available at 25 airports in Finland. Sonera will now enhance wGate by piloting SIM-based authentication.
"The advantages of WLAN technology include high-rate data transmission and easy network connections, further facilitated by SIM cards," said Pasi Tolonen, vice president, Sonera. "The WLAN services maintained by operators also provide new business opportunities for service providers, as they can offer their local services within the coverage area of the WLAN. The services supplement Sonera's wireless service offering by combining it into a comprehensive solution with GPRS and UMTS networks. High-rate access provided for employees independently of time and place considerably improves the efficiency of the company's business. Sonera is a forerunner in WLAN services maintained by operators, and so our customers have access to the most advanced and compatible services in the market."
In Sonera's piloting project, corporate mobile-phone users will be able to access their corporate intranet from locations like the Helsinki airport, with full authentication safeguards. They will access the corporate network over wireless broadband connections of 11mbit/s, allowing them to integrate remotely with the office environment.
"In today's business climate, many corporate users can't afford to be 'out of the office' even when at the airport waiting for a flight," said Kimmo Kaitala, General Manager, Operator Wireless LAN, Nokia Networks. "The end-to-end Nokia Operator Wireless LAN solution lets operators extend broadband Internet access from the office to places with high concentrations of mobile business users, such as airports. This solution gives mobile operators the means to cover such hot spots in the most cost-effective way possible, while encouraging corporate users to boost their usage in these public areas. Corporate users can do this easily and securely thanks to the innovative SIM-based authentication feature that simplifies access for the user and billing for the operator. We are happy to be delivering the system that will allow Sonera to demonstrate these benefits to corporate users."
Users of the Nokia Operator Wireless LAN enjoy simplified access thanks to secure authentication based on SIM cards. Corporate users only need to type a PIN code and click "connect" to access the company network. This is because their identification and authentication data is stored on the SIM (subscriber identification module) card used by the wireless LAN terminals installed in their laptops. As part of the piloting project, Sonera's existing WLAN infrastructure will be software upgraded to support SIM authentication.
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