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Wi-Fi Offloading, How? – Chapter 6.3

Wi-Fi Access Network Metrics (ANM)

 

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has included Access Network Metrics (ANM) as a workgroup item for several years and has established it as a reference standard. As of Q4 2025, it is now liaised with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as a draft. ANM will facilitate the transmission of performance metrics through RADIUS, utilizing a specific attribute known as Connect-Info.

Still work in progress, but performance metrics in the Connect-Info attribute may include:

Wifi access network metrics (ANM)

  • Connect Speed
  • Wi-Fi Standards
  • Channel
  • Band
  • RSSI
  • RSSI Minimum
  • Noise Level
  • Channel Utilization
  • Tx Bit Rate
  • Rx Bit Rate
  • Frame Loss
  • Frame Retry

Access Network Metrics

Paradigm Shift for Offloading to Third-Party Wi-Fi Networks

We anticipate rapid adoption of this standard among leading Wi-Fi equipment vendors. In the coming years, the proprietary integrations we see today will be replaced by a standardized method for Wi-Fi network owners to share real-time performance metrics directly with the identity provider (IdP) responsible for authenticating devices and users for Wi-Fi access.

By establishing a foundation of trust and transparency, this development will create a paradigm shift in collaboration between third-party Wi-Fi network providers and mobile operators seeking more cost-effective indoor coverage. It will provide mobile operators with genuine visibility into Wi-Fi network quality during the device authentication process, empowering them to control whether to allow Wi-Fi access. Additionally, the use of RADIUS interim accounting with an updated Connect-Info attribute at regular intervals will enable a re-evaluation of Wi-Fi quality. If the quality falls below a certain threshold, systems like Enea Aptilo SMP can execute a Change of Authorization (CoA) to prevent users from staying connected to a deteriorating Wi-Fi network.

With widespread ANM deployment, mobile operators could even explore roaming with unknown Wi-Fi networks within the OpenRoaming federation, as they will have the ability to predict user experience.

Notably, ANM will not change the fact that the device remains the primary decision-maker in network selection and will likely prefer Wi-Fi, even if the cellular connection is equally good or better. For insights on how mobile operators can gain full control by leveraging both cellular network quality metrics and Wi-Fi access network metrics for an excellent user experience, please refer to Enea’s ‘Intelligent Rightloading’ innovation in the ‘QoE-based Traffic Steering‘ chapter.

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