ETB Colombia Enhances LTE Coverage with Alepo WiFi Offload Solution 

How Colombia’s principal CSP deployed Alepo’s carrier-grade WiFi offload to boost data coverage and increase WiFi consumption from 1GB to 16GB monthly. 

The Challenge: Limited LTE Coverage 

La Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogota (ETB), Colombia’s principal communications service provider offering fixed voice, FTTH broadband, LTE, and digital television, faced coverage limitations with their recently launched LTE broadband network. ETB needed to provide consistent data coverage for LTE subscribers in areas without LTE availability while building their own expansive WiFi hotspot network as part of their strategic transformation program. 

The operator required a solution that would deliver smooth data experience across mixed LTE and WiFi networks to enhance customer experience, prevent churn, and maintain market leadership. 

The Vision: Seamless Network Experience

ETB envisioned creating a unified data experience where subscribers could seamlessly transition between LTE and WiFi networks without service interruption. The goal was to enhance customer data experience while expanding network capabilities through strategic WiFi deployment across the capital. 

The Solution: Carrier-Grade WiFi Offload Platform 

ETB partnered with Alepo to deploy a comprehensive WiFi offload solution in under two months: 

• 3GPP Carrier-Grade AAA: Multi-site deployment providing secure SIM-based authentication for WiFi offloaded subscribers with EAP module integration ensuring seamless authentication processes. 
• Enterprise Management System: Comprehensive AAA configuration and user management portal enabling centralized control of WiFi offload operations across multiple deployment sites. 
• Advanced Integration: Seamless integration with third-party HSS via Diameter-based SWx interface and third-party T-GW via RADIUS interface ensuring compatibility with existing network infrastructure. 
• Comprehensive Coverage: Strategic WiFi hotspot deployment across Bogota providing granular coverage to complement LTE network capabilities. 

Significant Coverage Enhancement 

The deployment delivered measurable improvements in network performance: 

• Enhanced Data Coverage: Successful WiFi offload created a more connected network with consistent data experience through granular WiFi hotspot deployment across the capital. 
• 16x Data Consumption Increase: Total WiFi data consumption increased from less than 1GB to 16GB monthly, significantly reducing pressure on shared radio access network resources. 
• Growing Adoption: Offloaded data sessions increased from 0% to 5% of mobile subscribers within one month, indicating strong customer acceptance of seamless connectivity experience. 
• Competitive Advantage: Launch of WiFi hotspot services in Bogota region provided ETB with market differentiation and enhanced network capacity without additional mobile infrastructure investment. 

The Impact

ETB’s WiFi offload implementation demonstrates how strategic network enhancement can improve coverage while optimizing resource utilization. The solution provided immediate capacity relief while building foundations for enhanced customer experience across mixed network environments. 

The bottom line:

Strategic WiFi offload solutions enable CSPs to enhance network coverage and capacity while providing seamless customer experience across multiple access technologies.