OpenRoaming, a protocol developed by Cisco that enables zero-touch provisioning and onboarding for WiFi, has been donated to the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) as an open industry standard. The agreement calls for WBA to take full control of the development, promotion, and administration of the technology. WBA will also serve as the root certificate authority responsible for securing authentication traffic on the back end of the network, according to Cisco.

OpenRoaming is built on the Passpoint protocol, which enables a WiFi device to automatically and securely connect to any WiFi access point that is supported by the OpenRoaming Federation. That community of supporters includes service providers, equipment manufacturers, and networking vendors.

AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Cisco, Comcast, GlobalReach, Google, Intel, KT, and Samsung are all involved in that effort, and WBA intends to broaden its appeal to more companies now that the platform is being transitioned to a neutral and open industry standard.

OpenRoaming, which has been developed and managed by Cisco for two years, is built on a series of standards and guidelines developed by the WBA and Wi-Fi Alliance. The technology, which also adheres to Wireless Intermediary Exchange standards to enable seamless handoffs between WiFi and cellular networks, will now be adopted as an industry-wide initiative led by the WBA.

“There are over 250 million WiFi hotspots across the globe, but accessing them has never been as easy, or safe as it should be. End users often encounter hotspots that require navigating splash pages or sign-in screens — and that can often result in a confusing experience, poor performance and questionable security,” Matt MacPherson, CTO of Cisco’s wireless division, explained in a blog post.

The change in stewardship for OpenRoaming will also enable companies that support or otherwise adhere to the WBA’s standards to integrate the technology regardless of the equipment provider, according to WBA. The alliance currently has 80 members, including network operators and technology providers.

“OpenRoaming now becomes an open standard, creating a world where WiFi users will be able to move seamlessly from one WiFi network to another without re-registering or signing in,” WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues said in a statement.

The WBA says multiple companies are also conducting OpenRoaming trials for autonomous and connected vehicles, and developers are using the protocol and location analytics to learn more about the activities of shoppers and employees.

OpenRoaming is being described as an open standard but it is only available to WBA members and its partners.