Washington State Ferries explores public web service with new pilot program – GeekWire

by Taylor Soper on Jan 6, 2026 at 9:45 amJanuary 6, 2026 at 9:47 am

Washington State Ferries is taking an preliminary step towards providing public Wi-Fi service at ferry terminals and aboard vessels.

The company issued a report in December proposing a restricted Wi-Fi pilot at a single terminal — Bremerton — and on a single vessel, the M/V Chimacum.

The hassle is pushed by state laws handed final 12 months directing the Washington State Division of Transportation (WSDOT) to deploy a Wi-Fi pilot inside current assets and report on viability, prices, and potential free or fee-based fashions.

Washington State Ferries (WSF), which operates below WSDOT, is working via the procurement course of for a vendor for the pilot program, in accordance with a spokesperson. This system is proscribed in scope and any enlargement or continuation could be topic to path from lawmakers, the spokesperson famous.

The report estimates that the pilot might price between $100,000 and $150,000, which incorporates tools, set up, and minimal vendor help for the pilot interval. WSF estimates that increasing public Wi-Fi throughout terminals and vessels statewide would probably require a multi-million-dollar capital funding, together with ongoing annual working and upkeep prices within the seven-figure vary.

WSF presently supplies no public web service anyplace in its ferry system. The report references a private-sector try to supply Wi-Fi within the late 2000s that in the end failed resulting from excessive infrastructure prices and inadequate income. WSF beforehand partnered with wi-fi networking firm Boingo on a fee-based Wi-Fi service in 2008, however that led to 2016.

The brand new pilot might decide whether or not fashionable networking expertise and vendor fashions change that equation. WSF plans to measure what number of passengers really use Wi-Fi, how a lot bandwidth they devour, service reliability, and what sort of staffing and vendor help is required to maintain the system working.

Last prices for a possible broader rollout would rely upon components similar to what number of terminals and vessels are lined, the extent of bandwidth offered, and whether or not service is free, paid, or a mixture of each.

If WSF proceeds as deliberate, the pilot would transfer ahead in 2026, with set up within the spring, and an operational take a look at interval working from Could via August, in accordance with the report. WSF would analyze the information in late summer time and ship findings and suggestions in September 2026.

The company flagged a number of dangers, together with cybersecurity necessities, potential pressure on employees assets, infrastructure limitations on older vessels and terminals, and the problem of managing passenger expectations for a short lived take a look at program. Any public Wi-Fi community would must be absolutely segmented from ferry operational methods and adjust to state IT safety and accessibility requirements.