Boingo Buys Washington State Ferry Wi-Fi

Boingo Wireless Inc., a Santa Monica, Calif.-based operator of Wi-Fi networks, has acquired Wi-Fi networks for the WSDOT ferries division (WSF) from Parsons Transportation Group. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which allows Boingo to add 11 ferry terminals and 15 ferries in Washington State to its national airport network. Boingo has raised over $63 million in VC funding from Mitsui & Co., New Enterprise Associates, Sternhill Partners, Evercore Partners, Steelpoint Capital and Red Rock Ventures.

 

PRESS RELEASE

Boingo Wireless®, announces that it has acquired the Wi-Fi networks for the WSDOT ferries division (WSF) from Parsons Transportation Group, and will be providing Wi-Fi access to the daily commuters, professionals and tourists that use the ferry system. With the acquisition, Boingo will be adding 11 Washington State Ferries terminals and 15 Ferries to complement its owned and operated airport network.

 

Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry fleet in the United States with 22 ferries traversing the Puget Sound and its inland waterways, carrying more than 24 million passengers to 20 different ports of call.

 

The Ferries Wi-Fi network will be moving to a Boingo-branded start page, where commuters and tourists will be able to purchase Boingo AsYouGo day passes for $7.95, as well as Boingo Unlimited for $21.95 per month. Boingo Unlimited is a monthly service that provides Wi-Fi access throughout the Americas and can be used at any Boingo location. For current subscribers to the Washington State Ferries Wi-Fi, the monthly subscription will be a decrease in price from $29.95, and will now include the ability to connect to any hotspot in the Boingo Roaming Network.

 

The Washington State Ferries Wi-Fi network will also be accessible to all Boingo Mobile users, which include Window Mobile Devices and other smart phones. Boingo Mobile is a perfect solution for the short ferry ride, and is a flat rate of $7.95 worldwide.

 

“Boingo has always prided itself on being the perfect service for the business traveler, whether she is getting online with a laptop or a smart phone,” said Dave Hagan, CEO and president of Boingo Wireless. “The Washington State Ferries Wi-Fi network acquisition gives us another way to serve our core customers – the person that wants to be online and be productive – while on their commute, doing business in Washington or on a personal vacation.”

 

The eleven terminals from where the Wi-Fi ferries launch are: Seattle; Bainbridge; Bremerton; Edmonds; Kingston; Mukilteo; Clinton; Fauntleroy; Vashon; Southworth; and, Anacortes. These locations join the more than 100,000 hotspot locations in Boingo’s Roaming Network, which include more than 500 airports, 20,000 hotels, and thousands of retail locations and popular coffee shops worldwide.

 

About Boingo Wireless

Boingo Wireless, Inc., the global market leader in Wi-Fi, makes it simple and easy for people to enjoy Wi-Fi access on their laptop or mobile device at more than 100,000 hotspots worldwide. With a single account, Boingo users can logon to the Boingo Network locations that include the top airports around the world, major hotel chains, cafés and coffee shops, restaurants, and metropolitan hot zones. Boingo, and its Concourse Communications Group subsidiary, operate wired and wireless networks at 55 airports worldwide, including 29 of the top 100 North American airports, as well as the WSDOT Ferries Division Wi-Fi network. For more information about Boingo, please visit http://www.boingo.com.