Automated Multi-Carrier Wi-Fi Onboarding

Problem Context

IT teams manage corporate Wi-Fi networks where employees and devices must connect securely. Cellular devices (phones, tablets) often rely on PSKs (passwords) or captive portals, which are slow, insecure, and disrupt workflows. Enterprises want to use Passpoint/OpenRoaming for seamless onboarding but struggle with carrier limitations—most solutions only work with one US carrier (e.g., AT&T), leaving gaps for Verizon and T-Mobile users.

Pain Points

IT admins waste hours manually configuring PSKs or troubleshooting failed onboarding. Users get locked out of Wi-Fi until IT intervenes. Current tools like Google Orion only support AT&T, forcing enterprises to stick with outdated methods or accept partial coverage. Without a unified solution, teams can’t enforce consistent security policies across all carriers.

Impact

Downtime from Wi-Fi issues costs enterprises thousands in lost productivity. Manual PSK management increases security risks (e.g., shared passwords). IT teams burn cycles on repetitive tasks instead of strategic work. Enterprises miss out on Passpoint’s benefits—faster onboarding, better security, and reduced helpdesk tickets—because no tool covers all three major US carriers.

Urgency

This problem can’t be ignored because it directly impacts employee productivity and network security. Every day without a solution means more manual work, more helpdesk tickets, and higher risk of compliance violations. As enterprises adopt more cellular devices (e.g., BYOD policies), the problem will worsen without automation.

Target Audience

IT administrators, network engineers, and mobility managers in mid-to-large enterprises (e.g., universities, hospitals, corporations) who manage fleets of cellular devices. Managed service providers (MSPs) also face this when supporting clients with multi-carrier Wi-Fi needs. Any organization using Passpoint/OpenRoaming but limited to one carrier is a potential customer.

Solution Approach

A cloud-based SaaS platform that acts as a unified Passpoint/OpenRoaming gateway for all three US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile). It replaces manual PSKs and captive portals with automated, secure onboarding for cellular devices while keeping corporate SSIDs separate. The tool integrates with existing IT systems (e.g., MDM, Wi-Fi controllers) via APIs, requiring no on-premise hardware or complex setup.

Key Features

1. Automated Troubleshooting: Real-time alerts when a device fails to connect, with root-cause analysis (e.g., ‘T-Mobile’s Passpoint certificate expired—here’s how to fix it’).
2. Zero-Config Deployment: IT teams add the tool via API key; no need to reconfigure every device.
3. Corporate SSID Isolation: Ensures cellular devices use Passpoint while laptops stay on the secure corporate network.
4. Audit Logs: Tracks onboarding attempts, failures, and user activity for compliance.

User Experience

IT admins sign up, paste an API key into their MDM or Wi-Fi controller, and the tool handles the rest. Devices connect automatically to Wi-Fi without passwords. If a problem occurs, the tool sends an email with steps to fix it. Managers get monthly reports on onboarding success rates and security risks. No more manual PSKs, no more helpdesk tickets for Wi-Fi issues.

Differentiation

Unlike Google Orion (AT&T-only) or vendor-specific tools, this covers all three US carriers in one place. It’s lighter than enterprise Wi-Fi controllers (no hardware) and more automated than MDM plugins. The focus on *zero-touch setup- and real-time troubleshooting sets it apart from static Passpoint solutions. Competitors either lack carrier coverage or require IT to manually configure each device.

Scalability

Starts with seat-based pricing ($50/user/month for small teams, $20/user for enterprises). Adds features like *custom branding- (for MSPs), *advanced analytics- (e.g., carrier performance comparisons), and SMS/email notifications for large deployments. Integrates with popular IT tools (e.g., Jamf, Intune, Cisco Meraki) to expand use cases.

Expected Impact

Eliminates 90% of manual Wi-Fi onboarding work, reducing IT labor by 5+ hours/week. Cuts helpdesk tickets related to Wi-Fi issues by 70%. Improves security by replacing PSKs with Passpoint’s certificate-based authentication. Enterprises can finally enforce consistent policies across all carriers, reducing compliance risks and downtime.