U.S. distributed antenna system (DAS) and Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless has joined the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program.
“Boingo powers smart cities from the inside out. You cannot have a smart city without intelligent, connected buildings. New wireless technology—including 5G, private networks over CBRS, and Wi-Fi 6—will power smart cities,” said Michael Zeto III, SVP of global strategy and emerging businesses at Boingo. “We’re pleased to join this esteemed group of industry leaders to help turn on all of the elements required within a smart city through fast, secure wireless technology.”
“We are pleased to welcome Boingo Wireless to the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program to implement their cutting-edge connectivity technologies to support businesses and municipalities in need of smart solutions,” said Ashok Tipirneni, director, Qualcomm Technologies, and head of platform product management for smart cities. “Qualcomm Technologies’ innovation and leadership in mobile and 5G, combined with Boingo Wireless’ comprehensive solutions, can help equip our ecosystem members with enhanced connectivity and streamlined operations for enabling monetization with smart-connected deployments.”
The Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program, launched in 2019 as part of the Qualcomm Advantage Network, is designed to connect cities, municipalities, government agencies, and enterprises with an ecosystem of providers. With expertise in commercially deployed solutions, program members include hardware and software providers, cloud solution providers, system integrators, design and manufacturing companies, as well as those offering end-to-end smart city solutions. Qualcomm said that this program currently has more than 300 members.
Some of the program’s members include Arm, Accenture, Cimcom, Black & Veatch, Cambium Networks, Cradlepoint, Hitachi Vantara, IBM, Kingston, Microsoft, Cel-Fi, Tech Mahintra, Telensa, Telit, Ubicquia, Verizon and Western Digital.
Last month, Boingo Wireless agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Digital Colony Management in a deal worth $854 million.
The transaction will take Boingo from being a public company to being a privately held firm.
Under the terms of the deal, which had been unanimously approved by Boingo’s board, Digital Colony will acquire all the outstanding shares of Boingo common stock for $14.00 per share in cash through a merger, in a transaction valued at about $854 million, including the assumption of $199 million of Boingo’s net debt obligations.
Boingo Wireless provides its solutions to airports, stadiums, military bases, convention centers, multifamily communities and commercial properties.
