Consortium proposes standard authentication across networks

Rethink IT, Nov, 2004

The WLAN Smart Card Consortium, which has been developing a standard method of authentication and access to hotspots and other Wi-Fi networks, has broadened its technology to provide a single card-based method suitable for a whole range of IEEE technologies.

It has endorsed a new EAPSC authentication type that provides a unified secure point of entry for all IP wireless networks including Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 802.20 Mobile-Fi, and their planned standard interconnect, 802.21.

The new authentication type allows handsets, PDAs, PCs and embedded systems to access standard TLS authentication in a tamperproof form factor.

Additionally, the new EAP-SC type also allows access to GSM and 3G networks with SIM and USIM authentication schemes.

"With 1bn units sold each year, the smart card is the de facto standard for the networking world and its entry into the emerging EAP standard of wireless access is the unifying proposition that the industry has been waiting for," said Guy Pujolle, chairman of the Consortium's technical committee.

The technology will be submitted to the Internet Engineering TaskForce (IETF) standards body for consideration as a fully industry standard. The draft proposal is available at http://WLANSmartCard.org/.>

COPYRIGHT 2004 Rethink Research Associates

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group