Wi-Fi and 3G are both wireless technologies that provide internet access, but they connect differently. Wi-Fi uses short-range wireless networks while 3G uses cellular networks with a wider range. Mobile devices prefer to use Wi-Fi when available due to typically lower costs and faster speeds. As data usage increases, Wi-Fi offloading can help mobile operators reduce network costs and improve customer experience by shifting users from 3G/4G networks to Wi-Fi networks where possible. Offloading to Wi-Fi networks allows operators to add network capacity more affordably and flexibly compared to expanding cellular infrastructure.

1. Wi-Fi Vs. 3G
Air Grid Technologies LLP.

2. Basic Requirement
 3G and WiFi are communication technologies that provide wireless internet
access and services to users. 3G and wireless are commonly used by devices
such as laptop computers, smartphones and PDAs, and other entertainment
gadgets.
 The major difference between wifi and 3G is the way they connect to the
internet.
 Wifi connects to the internet through a wireless network and has a short range.
You may have a private wireless network set up at home, its range depends
on your vicinity to your computer router. Wifi is also commonly available in
public places such as cafes, airports and shopping centres.
 3G is a type of cellular network and connects to the internet where ever there
is mobile phone service. This means its range is a lot wider than a wireless
network. Accessing the internet through your mobile phone provider usually
comes at a greater cost than wifi, especially if you are travelling overseas and
using International Roaming.
 When using a portable device that is capable of using both Wifi and 3G, such
as an iPhone, unless you have turned wifi off your device should always
connect to the internet using wifi unless it is not available. If it is not available
or you are out of range, your device will then connect using 3G.

3. 3G Offload
 Mobile Data Offloading – often called Wi-Fi
offload – is so much more than just offloading
3G/4G mobile users to the Wi-Fi network, which at
many locations is a more cost-effective access
method for mobile broadband. As both
subscribers and devices tend to connect to Wi-Fi
whenever it is in reach, mobile operators need to
follow their subscribers into the Wi-Fi environment.
Hence the business case for Wi-Fi offload is both
about saving on costs and reducing churn. This is
why many mobile operators are starting to
integrate Wi-Fi simply as another radio network to
their 3GPP mobile core; it is all about building a
heterogeneous network

4. Offload Structure

5. Why Wi-Fi Offload?
 For years mobile subscribers have been used to mobile broadband at an
affordable price, in many markets even for a flat fee per month regardless of
usage. That worked well until the beginning of the “iPhone era.” According to
the Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI), the average smartphone traffic
nearly tripled from 2010 to 2011 (now 150 MB/month) and the global mobile
data traffic will increase 18-fold between 2011 and 2016.
 Additionally, more and more devices such as laptops and tablets like the iPad
come with mobile data broadband capabilities built-in, as they are designed
to download e.g. HD video from anywhere, at any time. While some mobile
operators urgently need a cost-effective way of satisfying customers’ ever-
increasing hunger for more bandwidth, this is not the only driver for Wi-Fi
offload. As devices with built-in Wi-Fi perform better in Wi-Fi networks (with
speeds up to 300 Mbit/s) than in 3G/4G – especially indoors – mobile
operators need to be able to deliver a good Wi-Fi-based end-user
experience. Furthermore, with more and more new types of devices being
designed specifically as “Wi-Fi only,” the operator can decrease churn and
make subscribers more “sticky” by offering
Wi-Fi.

6. Wi-Fi offload can reduce cost
 By offloading users from the 3G/4G network to Wi-Fi networks,
mobile operators can add more capacity in an affordable and
flexible way. We have seen operators that have built Wi-Fi offload
networks proactively in areas with heavy mobile broadband usage
such as universities – and reaped the rewards of reduced cost and
lower churn due to a better user experience.
 Alternative offload solutions that only focus on bypassing the
packet core gateways in the mobile core will only decrease the
load on these nodes and not offload the entire network including
the Radio Access Network (RAN). Using femtocells for offloading is
a way of building the 3G radio network cost-effectively, but
femtocells do not provide an option of increasing the footprint
quickly through partners the way that Wi-Fi does.
 Additionally most Wi-Fi-enabled devices try to establish a Wi-Fi
connection as the first choice whenever available. Some
applications can only be used on Wi-Fi. It is no surprise that carrier-
class Wi-Fi has rapidly gained interest and Wi-Fi offload has become
a priority among mobile operators globally.

7. Thank you
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