What is Hotspot 2.0?
Definition
Hotspot 2.0 is the standard, built on IEEE 802.11u, that lets compatible devices discover and join WiFi networks automatically using credentials already provisioned to the device. There is no captive portal and no password to type. It is the technology layer beneath Passpoint and OpenRoaming.
Hotspot 2.0 explained
Before joining, a Hotspot 2.0 device can ask a network which identity providers it accepts, using the 802.11u query mechanism. If the network accepts a credential the device holds, from a mobile operator, an employer or a platform account, the device connects on its own. It feels like cellular roaming, applied to WiFi.
The connection that results is secure by default. Authentication runs over 802.1X and EAP, so the session is encrypted with WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise rather than left open, which is the main security weakness of traditional public hotspots. That combination of automatic joining and enterprise-grade encryption is why rail operators and airports specify it.
In practice, the names overlap. Hotspot 2.0 is the underlying specification, Passpoint is the WiFi Alliance certification programme for devices and access points that implement it, and OpenRoaming is a federation run by the Wireless Broadband Alliance that uses Passpoint to connect networks and identity providers worldwide. When buying access points, look for Passpoint certification.
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