DAS and Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless (NASDAQ: WIFI) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Advanced Wireless Group (AWG), the second largest airport Wi-Fi provider in the United States. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013; terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Boingo says its acquisition of AWG creates "an unmatched global leader in airport wireless services," providing public Wi-Fi and cellular DAS network expertise, while offering a multitude of network enhancements that include location-based services, venue analytics, and advanced roaming access via Hotspot 2.0 deployments. With the expanded reach and resources afforded by the aquisition, Boingo says it will be able to accelerate new products to market that enhance the value of the wireless networks with actionable business data, while improving the experience of passengers.
“Wireless infrastructure at the airport has become more than an Internet connection for travelers; it is a primary touch-point between the airport and its passengers,” comments David Hagan, CEO of Boingo Wireless. “Adding AWG’s airport portfolio to our own will help us to reach scale more quickly with a wide array of services that leverage the wireless infrastructure to help airports better serve those passengers.”
AWG currently operates the public Wi-Fi services in the following airports: Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS), Buffalo (BUF), Burbank (BUR), Charlotte (CLT), Detroit (DTW), Indianapolis (IND), John Wayne (SNA), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis – St. Paul (MSP), Oakland (OAK), Omaha (OMA), Providence (PVD), Sacramento (SMF), and San Diego (SAN). The company has also been chosen to operate the public Wi-Fi services in Phoenix’s Sky Harbor (PHX) airport.
“As the operational benefits of wireless-based services become more recognized, the combined resources of the two leaders in airport Wi-Fi can bring them to market faster than either one of us alone,” asserts Scott Phillips, president and CEO of Advanced Wireless Group. “Airport administrators want tools that give them actionable information -- we can provide that better together.”
According to a press release, the combined entity will operate the public Wi-Fi services in nearly 60% of North America’s top 50 airports and more than 40% of the world’s top 50 airports, representing more than 1.4 billion passengers per year across all airports.
“This is a great opportunity to combine both personnel and best practices from two leading companies and put resources in closer proximity to all of our partner airports,” concludes Nick Hulse, president of Boingo Wireless. “The expanded regional coverage will enable our management teams to boost responsiveness to airport executives and readily address their needs.”
Representatives from both companies will be attending the ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Jose, Calif., to be held Sept. 23-25.
