Boingo Wireless

Last updated
Boingo Wireless, Inc.
Company type Private
Nasdaq: WIFI
Industry Telecommunications, Wireless, Technology
Founded2001;23 years ago (2001), in Los Angeles, California
Founder Sky Dayton
Headquarters10960 Wilshire Blvd.
23rd Floor
Los Angeles, California [1]
Key people
Mike Finley (CEO)
ProductsWireless broadband technology and services for large public venues including Wi-Fi, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells
Website www.boingo.com

Boingo Wireless, Inc. is an American company that designs, builds and manages wireless networks. Its public and private networks include distributed antenna systems (DAS), small cells, macro towers and more than one million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world. The company operates networks for airports, transit stations, stadiums, military bases, hospitals and commercial properties. [2] In December 2022, the company announced it was moving its headquarters to Frisco, Texas, and would maintain regional offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. [3] The company was listed on the Nasdaq until it was acquired by investment firm Digital Colony Management LLC in 2021.

Contents

History

In 2001, Earthlink co-founder Sky Dayton founded Boingo to address the then-fragmented state of Wi-Fi networks. [4] He said he saw how Wi-Fi "could help make the Internet as ubiquitous as the air we breathe". [5]

In March 2007, Boingo acquired Concourse Communications Group, which extended Boingo's services into Wi-Fi and cellular DAS networks at airports. [6] [7]

On November 10, 2008, Boingo acquired Opti-Fi Networks’ Wi-Fi holdings, adding another 25 airport Wi-Fi networks to its portfolio of managed locations and bringing its total of airport Wi-Fi networks to 55. [8]

On May 4, 2011, Boingo Wireless went public, giving the company a market cap of approximately $439 million. The stock price dropped soon afterward, and Boingo's IPO was initially viewed as "less than auspicious", [9] but the stock recovered a year later to its IPO price. [10]

On August 8, 2012, the company acquired Cloud Nine Media, thereby adding advertising services for sponsored Wi-Fi. [11]

On February 21, 2013, the company acquired Endeka Group, a provider of Wi-Fi and IPTV services to military bases and federal law enforcement training facilities. [12]

In November 2013, Boingo announced contracts with the US Air Force, US Army, and US Marines Corps to install IPTV and broadband access networks on their posts. [13]

In September 2013, Boingo announced the acquisition of its largest competitor, Advanced Wireless Group (AWG). [14] At the time of the announcement, AWG operated networks at 17 US airports, including Logan Airport (BOS), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Miami International Airport (MIA). Boingo announced that the combined entity would operate in 60 percent of North America's top 50 airports and more than 40 percent of the world's top 50 airports, reaching more than 1.4 billion passengers annually. [15]

In February 2014, Boingo launched Passpoint Secure hotspot service at 24 US airports, including LAX, Chicago's O'Hare, and New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports. [16] In June 2014, the company partnered with American Express to offer its Platinum card holders free wireless access. [17]

In April 2015, Boingo struck a deal with wireless carrier Sprint Corporation to offload the carrier's customer traffic onto Boingo's Wi-Fi networks at 35 US airports. The deal was reportedly struck to improve Sprint's network performance. [18]

In March 2016, Boingo was subject of a proxy fight when concerns were raised about Boingo's financial performance and the lack of diversity in Boingo's board of directors. [19] [20] A June 2016 settlement ended this proxy fight and Boingo added three directors to their board, including Kathleen Misunas who was the first female board member at Boingo since the company's founding. [21] [19]

As of November 2017, Boingo's market capitalization stood at $1.02 billion. [22]

In July 2018, Boingo deployed a private LTE network using the shared 3.5 GHz Citizen's Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) at Dallas' Love Field Airport. [23] In August, the company acquired Charleston, South Carolina-based multifamily and student housing Wi-Fi provider Elauwit Networks. [24] In November, Boingo announced that it had been selected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York to build and maintain wireless services for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Atlantic Branch and Grand Central Terminal's upcoming East Side Access facility. The two DAS facility deals were reportedly the largest in the company's history. [25]

In February 2019, Boingo expanded a Wi-Fi roaming agreement with AT&T. The deal was designed to offer AT&T subscribers a seamless and complimentary Wi-Fi connection on Boingo's Passpoint-certified networks. [26] In March, CEO David Hagan retired and was replaced by Mike Finley, a former Qualcomm executive. [27] In August, wireless carrier Verizon announced it was partnering with Boingo to bring the carrier's 5G service to indoor public spaces such as stadiums, airports and hotels. [28] In December, the company announced it had realigned its business to focus on higher growth opportunities it was seeing with DAS, carrier offload, military and multi-family housing. [29]

On March 1, 2021 Boingo Wireless Inc. announced that they would be entering into an agreement with Boca Raton, Florida-based investment firm Digital Colony Management LLC to be acquired for an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $854 million. [30] [31] According to a related company press release, the transaction was still pending shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and closing conditions. [32] The transaction completed in June 2021 and the company's stock was delisted from Nasdaq. [33]

On May 27, 2021 Boingo sold off their Multifamily Business to RealPage. [34] The Multifamily Business had been acquired as Elauwit Networks in 2018. [24]

Also in 2021, Boingo launched a private network for the staff at Petco Park in San Diego, home of the Padres baseball team. [35] In October 2022, the company announced it was opening a Boingo Innovation Center in Las Vegas, to demonstrate different wireless technologies. [36] In December 2022, the company announced it was moving its headquarters to Frisco, Texas, and would maintain regional offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. [3]

Products and services

Boingo acquires long-term wireless rights in large venues like airports, military bases, and stadiums; builds DAS, Wi-Fi, and small cell networks to serve those areas; and monetizes those networks through advertising, carrier fees, or user charges. [24] [37] Its business is divided into higher growth core and legacy business lines and includes the following: [29]

Awards and recognition

Related Research Articles

Verizon is an American wireless network operator that previously operated as a separate division of Verizon Communications under the name Verizon Wireless. In a 2019 reorganization, Verizon moved the wireless products and services into the divisions Verizon Consumer and Verizon Business, and stopped using the Verizon Wireless name. Verizon has 114.8 million subscribers as of March 31, 2024. It currently has the largest network in the United States with their LTE network covering 70% of the United States.

Linksys Holdings, Inc., is an American brand of data networking hardware products mainly sold to home users and small businesses. It was founded in 1988 by the couple Victor and Janie Tsao, both Taiwanese immigrants to the United States. Linksys products include Wi-Fi routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wifi extenders, access points, network switches, and Wi-Fi networking. It is headquartered in Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wi-Fi Alliance</span> Non-profit organization that owns the Wi-Fi trademark

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a non-profit organization that owns the Wi-Fi trademark. Manufacturers may use the trademark to brand products certified for Wi-Fi interoperability. It is based in Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wi-Fi hotspot</span> Wi-Fi access point

A hotspot is a physical location where people can obtain Internet access, typically using Wi-Fi technology, via a wireless local-area network (WLAN) using a router connected to an Internet service provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fon Wireless</span> UK Wi-Fi service company

Fon Wireless Ltd. is a for-profit company incorporated and registered in the United Kingdom that provides wireless services. Fon was founded in Madrid, Spain, in 2006, by Martín Varsavsky where it headquarters most of its operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal wireless network</span> Wi-fi network provided by local government

A municipal wireless network is a citywide wireless network. This usually works by providing municipal broadband via Wi-Fi to large parts or all of a municipal area by deploying a wireless mesh network. The typical deployment design uses hundreds of wireless access points deployed outdoors, often on poles. The operator of the network acts as a wireless internet service provider.

IEEE 802.11u-2011 is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11-2007 standard to add features that improve interworking with external networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KT Corporation</span> South Korean telecommunication service provider

KT Corporation, formerly Korea Telecom, is a South Korean telecommunications company. KT is the third-largest wireless carrier in South Korea, with 17.155 million subscribers as of Q4 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvarion</span>

Alvarion Technologies Ltd. is a global provider of autonomous Wi-Fi networks designed with self-organizing capabilities for carrier-grade Wi-Fi, enterprise connectivity, smart city planning, smart hospitality, connected campuses, and connected events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-Mobile US</span> American telecommunications company

T-Mobile US, Inc. is an American wireless network operator headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Its largest shareholder is Deutsche Telekom, a German company that operates telecommunications networks in several other countries. T-Mobile is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States, after Verizon and AT&T, with 31.43% of the market share as of June 13, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel Wifi</span>

DHI Telecom, LLC is a US commercial Internet service provider (ISP) that operates on U.S. and NATO bases in the Middle East including Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. DHI provides wired, fiber-optic cable, mobile Wi-Fi, and wireless commercial Internet access to US, coalition armed forces, direct-hire DoD, Department of the Army and State Department civilians, authorized civilian contractors, and international businesses participating in Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. DHI has additional operations in the UAE, Jordan, The Congo, Poland and Romania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MiFi</span> Brand name for a wireless router that acts as mobile Wi-Fi hotspot

MiFi is a brand of wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruckus Networks</span> Networking equipment brand

RUCKUS Networks is a brand of wired and wireless networking equipment and software owned by CommScope. Ruckus offers switches, Wi-Fi access points, CBRS access points, controllers, management systems, cloud management, AAA/BYOD software, AI and ML analytics software, location software and IoT controller software products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises. As a company, Ruckus invented and has patented wireless voice, video, and data technology, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase data rates, and avoid interference, providing distribution of delay-sensitive content over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi.

Republic Wireless was an American mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Republic sold low cost mobile phone service on partner networks. Republic started as a unique company that provided customers with VOIP numbers which relied on WiFi first with cell as a backup.

Tep Wireless, branded as Tep, is a telecommunications company which provides mobile broadband for international travelers. The aim of the service is to prevent roaming fees for individuals going abroad, while keeping them connected to the Internet anywhere they go. The service is rendered via pre-paid MiFi devices, which are delivered to users before their trip or picked up at various airports. At the end of the user's trip, the MiFi device is returned by post or dropped off at airports. Tep delivers its mobile broadband service through partnerships with global network operators, including Vodafone. The WiFi device can be ordered on the company's website, or those of Expedia or VisitBritain.DHI Telecom acquired Tep Wireless in October 2018 and continues to operate as a subsidiary.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is a 150 MHz wide broadcast band of the 3.5 GHz band in the United States. In 2017, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) completed a process which began in 2012 to establish rules for commercial use of this band, while reserving parts of the band for the US Federal Government to limit interference with US Navy radar systems and aircraft communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradlepoint</span> American manufacturer of networking equipment

Cradlepoint is a Boise, Idaho-based technology company that develops cloud-managed wireless edge networking equipment. The company was founded in 2006. Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson completed its acquisition of the company in November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boost Mobile (United States)</span> Wireless telecommunications brand

DISH Wireless L.L.C., doing business as Boost Mobile, is a United States wireless service provider owned by EchoStar. It operates using the Boost, AT&T and T-Mobile networks to deliver wireless services. As of Q3 2023, Boost Mobile, along with its sister brands Gen Mobile and Ting Mobile had 7.50 million customers.

References

  1. "Location". boingo.com. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  2. "Form 10-K Boingo Wireless, Inc". SEC. March 1, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Boingo Wireless to create 250 jobs at The Star in Frisco as it relocates HQ". Dallas News. December 19, 2022.
  4. "Day 2 at 802.11 Planet Conference". Wi-Fi Networking News. 2002-12-04. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  5. "Sky Dayton, founder of Boingo Wireless - Where are they now?". FierceWireless.com. June 18, 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  6. Ron (2006-05-22). "Boingo Wireless Acquires Airport Cellular, Wi-Fi Operator Concourse Communications". Wi-Fi Networking News. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  7. "Boingo Completes Concourse Buy". WirelessWeek. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  8. "Boingo Acquires Opti-Fi To Boost Airport Wi-Fi". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  9. "Boingo Wireless IPO Finds Lukewarm Reception On Day One". Forbes. 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  10. "Gogo Files For $165 Million IPO". Benzinga.com. 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  11. "Boingo Buys Wi-Fi Startup Cloud Nine Media". MediaPost Publications. 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  12. "Boingo Wireless (WIFI) to Acquire Endeka". StreetInsider.com. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  13. "Boingo supports the troops with IPTV, winning contracts to connect U.S. military bases". Gigaom.com. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  14. "Boingo Wireless Acquires Advanced Wireless Group". CommercialObserver. 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  15. "Boingo Acquires AWG, Combining Airport Industry's 2 Largest Wi-Fi Providers". Airport Revenue News. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  16. "Now Arriving: A Better Airport Experience". Airport Business. 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  17. 1 2 "American Express and Boingo Join to Offer Free, Unlimited Wi-Fi to Card Members". Travel and Leisure. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  18. 1 2 "Sprint makes Wi-Fi the 'fourth layer' of its network with new Boingo deal, small cell push and Wi-Fi router". fiercewireless.com. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  19. 1 2 Picker, Leslie (2016-10-04). "Hedge Fund Targets Companies' Weakness: The Gender Gap". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  20. Benoit, David (2016-03-24). "Activist Investor Ides Capital Seeks Seats on Boingo Wireless Board". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  21. Jamerson, Joshua (2016-06-01). "Boingo Reaches Deal With Activist Ides to Add Three Directors". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  22. "Analysts take a look at Boingo Wireless Inc (NASDAQ:WIFI) having this to say". presstelegraph.com. 2017-11-26. Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  23. "Boingo deploys trial CBRS network at Dallas Love Field". The NY Times. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  24. 1 2 3 "On record Q2, Boingo expands Wi-Fi footprint with acquisition". rcrwireless.com. 2018-08-02. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  25. "Boingo Skirts Tech Sell-Off as New York Transit Deal Spurs Gain". bloomberg.com. 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  26. "AT&T customers can now get free Wi-Fi on Boingo's Passpoint networks". CNET. 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  27. "Boingo names Finley new CEO to replace retiring Hagan". fiercewireless.com. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  28. "Verizon just announced a partnership with Boingo to solve its biggest 5G problem". The Verge. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  29. 1 2 "Boingo thins ranks as part of realignment". Mobile World Live. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  30. "Boingo Wireless is sold for $854 million". The Business Journals. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  31. "WIFI/Digital Colony Management: Digital Colony to Acquire Boingo Wireless in $854M Cash Transaction; Material Adverse Cap on Divestitures; $19.6M, $32.7M Termination Fees". Reorg. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  32. "Boingo Wireless to Be Acquired by Digital Colony". Telecompetitor. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  33. "Digital Colony Completes Acquisition of Boingo Wireless" (Press release). Business Wire. June 2, 2021.
  34. "M&A Advisory: RealPage Has Acquired Boingo's Multifamily Business From Boingo". Stephens. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  35. "Boingo scores CBRS deal with San Diego Padres | Fierce Wireless".
  36. Tomás, Juan Pedro (March 23, 2022). "Boingo Wireless opens innovation center in Las Vegas".
  37. "Boingo Wireless: Leading the Small Cell Revolution" (PDF). Shareholder.com. 2014-12-02. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  38. 1 2 TeckNexus, Hema Kadia (April 20, 2022). "5G for Transportation | 5G Magazine".
  39. "Boingo Wireless, Inc. (WIFI) CEO Mike Finley on Q3 2019 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". seekingalpha.com. 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2020-02-10.(subscription required)
  40. "CEO: Boingo in discussions with 'multiple carriers' to densify networks". fiercewireless.com. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  41. "When it Comes to DAS, World Trade Center Sets its Sights High". aglmediagroup.com. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  42. "Stadium Tech Report: Boingo, AT&T answer call for more DAS bandwidth at Chicago's Soldier Field". MobileSportsReport.com. 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  43. "Boingo serves up broadband for U.S. military". FierceWireless.com. 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  44. "Boingo CTO highlights wireless services for military bases". rcrwireless.com. 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  45. "Mastercard Partners To Connect Cardholders To Wi-Fi". MobileSportsReport.com. 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  46. "Boingo woos new carriers and ISPs". CNet. 2003-10-03. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  47. "How to Register For SPG AmEx Boingo Wi-Fi Access". ThriftyTraveler.com. August 20, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  48. "Wi-Fi roaming starts to take flight with Hotspot 2.0". PCWorld. February 24, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  49. "Time Warner Cable, Boingo turn on Hotspot 2.0". GigaOM.com. 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  50. "Turnkey Hot Spots". WiFiNetnews.com. 2002-11-18. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  51. "Boingo Wi-Finder (for iPad)". PC Magazine. 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  52. "Boingo's Cloud Nine deal shows how public Wi-Fi is changing". FierceWireless.com. 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  53. "Global Traveler picks top airlines, hotels and such". dallasnews.com. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  54. "Global Traveler announces the cream of the crop of 2013". GlobalTravelerUSA.com. 2013-12-01. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  55. "Global Traveler Announces 13th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards". GlobalTravelerUSA.com. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  56. "GT Tested Reader Survey Awards 2015". GlobalTravelerUSA.com. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  57. "GT Tested Reader Survey Awards 2017". GlobalTravelerUSA.com. 2017-12-01. p. 16. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  58. "2018 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards Winners". globaltravelerusa.com. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  59. "2019 GT Tested Reader Survey Award Winners". Global Traveler. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  60. "2015 Winners". wirelessglobalcongress.com. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  61. "Leading Lights 2016 Finalists: Most Innovative Wireless Service (3G, 4G, Carrier WiFi)". lightreading.com. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2017-02-28.