The connectivity burden for frequent travelers is set for some relief as public Wi-Fi services provider Boingo Wireless announced the launch of Hotspot 2.0 networks at 21 airports across the country. The network upgrade includes the addition of Passpoint-enabled features providing “instant access” for customers using Apple devices powered by the IOS 7 operating system.
Boingo’s VP of corporate communications Christian Gunning explained that the upgrade will allow Passpoint-certified mobile devices to automatically be identified and authenticated to the Wi-Fi network without the need for login pages. Users only need to download the Passpoint profile to their device, which will then establish a WPA2-encrypted connection whenever they are in range of a supported hotspot.
The 21 airport locations to first receive the Hotspot 2.0 upgrade are those controlled directly by Boingo and include:
–Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)
–Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)
–Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)
–Burbank – Bob Hope International (BUR)
–Chicago – Midway International (MDW)
–Chicago – O’Hare International (ORD)
–Detroit – Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
–Los Angeles International (LAX)
–Louisville International Airport (SDF)
–Memphis International (MEM)
–Milwaukee – General Mitchell International (MKE)
–Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)
–Nashville International (BNA)
–New York – John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
–New York – La Guardia International (LGA)
–New York – Stewart International (SWF)
–Newark Liberty International (EWR)
–Oakland International OAK)
–Oklahoma City – Will Rogers International (OKC)
–Omaha – Eppley Airfield (OMA)
–Providence – T.F. Green Airport (PVD)
Gunning noted that Boingo targeted IOS 7-powered devices initially since about half of total connections to its Wi-Fi network are through those devices, with plans to add support for other operating systems in the coming months. Gunning also explained that the explosive growth in Wi-Fi usage has seen the company need to upgrade either the Wi-Fi equipment, backhaul serving the equipment or both on a yearly basis compared with up to a three-year lag during initial Wi-Fi deployments.
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