Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to receiving authentication data from a user attempting to access a common device on a network; determining, using at least the authentication data, if the user is a local user of the network; responsive to the user not being a local user of the network: querying a smart contract on a distributed ledger network to determine whether or not to grant the user access to the common device, wherein the query comprises the authentication data of the user; and controlling the user's access to the common device based on an output received from the smart contract in response to the query.

Abstract: Methods and systems of user authentication for roaming access to a wireless communications network, using blockchain, is described. A wireless access point (WAP) can provide roaming connectivity to a Wi-Fi network for a mobile device, for example at a public hotspot. The disclosed WAP is blockchain-enabled, allowing connectivity to a blockchain network. Accordingly, when a WAP receives a connection request to the Wi-Fi network, the WAP can execute a smart contract in the blockchain to determine whether a user of the mobile device is authenticated for roaming access to the Wi-Fi network. In some cases, the smart contract verifies that service providers of the mobile device and the Wi-Fi network have a roaming agreement. Also, the smart contact can verify that the user is authenticated by the service provider of the mobile device. In some cases, the WAP device functions in accordance with a Hotspot 2.0 (HS2) networking standard.