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Reported deployment

Reported CBRS private network at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Illinois

A Boingo Wireless case study; outcomes are vendor-reported and not independent measurements.

Reviewed Sep 30, 20266 sourced facts
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Details

Organization
Chicago Department of Aviation (Chicago O'Hare International Airport)
Industry
airport operations
Region
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Current operating status
Launched (August 16, 2021 release)
Not stated by sources
Project date

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Overview

Boingo Wireless launched a private network on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), announced on August 16, 2021 as part of an expanded collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).[1] The first described use was a live video kiosk at the airport's Traveler's Aid Station, a virtual customer service center linking passengers with remote support staff; because Boingo already managed O'Hare's DAS and Wi-Fi network, it says it designed and deployed the cloud-based private network for the kiosk in days.[1] Boingo also says the network connects IoT devices and supports essential airport services.[1]

At a glance

Organization
Chicago Department of Aviation, at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.[1]
Location
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, a site of more than 7,200 acres.[2]
Date reported
August 16, 2021.[1]
Spectrum
CBRS; GAA or PAL is not stated.[1]
Technology
A cloud-based Boingo Private Network engineered with AWS. Boingo says its private networks can use 5G, LTE, CBRS, and Wi-Fi 6, but does not say which cellular generation runs at O'Hare.[1]
Scale as reported
Not publicly stated; the first described application was a video kiosk.[1]
Vendors and roles
Boingo Wireless: design, deployment, and management alongside the converged DAS and Wi-Fi network it runs at O'Hare. Amazon Web Services: cloud infrastructure hosting the video data.[1]
Integrator
Not publicly stated beyond Boingo.
Status
Launched as of August 16, 2021;[1] a Boingo vice president still listed O'Hare among Boingo's private network launches in June 2023.[3] No later status was found.

How the network is used

  • A live video kiosk at the Traveler's Aid Station for virtual customer service between passengers and remote staff.[1]
  • Connecting IoT devices that support essential airport services (campus and in-building).[1]
  • Touchless wayfinding, as Boingo described the O'Hare network in 2023.[3]
  • Boingo's 2023 case study presents the private CBRS network as one part of a converged network at ORD that also includes neutral host DAS, tenant Wi-Fi, and Passpoint.[2]

Reported results

As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.

  • The Chicago Department of Aviation's chief information officer, Diego Ferrer, said in Boingo's release that the private network delivers clear video calls without congesting the airport's public wireless networks.[1]
  • No measured performance results were published.[1]

Timeline

  1. In an ACI-NA blog post, a Boingo vice president cites O'Hare's private network for touchless wayfinding.[3]

  2. Boingo publishes a case study on its converged network at O'Hare, including the CBRS private network.[2]

  3. Boingo announces the private CBRS network at O'Hare, running on AWS cloud infrastructure.[1]

How to interpret this record

This record keeps the source's anonymous customer label and reported status. A case study does not establish current operation, reproducible performance, or independent verification.

Sources

Researched Oct 1, 2026. Manufacturer and vendor statements are their claims, not independent tests.

  1. Boingo Teams Up with AWS to Accelerate Digital Transformation at Major Airports and Stadiums — Boingo Wireless, Aug 16, 2021. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  2. Case Study: Chicago O'Hare International Airport Powers Touchless Passenger Experiences with Boingo — Boingo Wireless, Jan 6, 2023. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  3. Airport 5G Update: Leveraging CBRS for Smart Operations — Airports Council International-North America (post by Boingo Wireless), Jun 9, 2023. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.

Every detail in the table at the top comes from these sources. Open the source details for each fact’s publisher, evidence type, date, and where it appears.

Source details (6)
SOURCEOrganization

Chicago Department of Aviation (Chicago O'Hare International Airport)

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Quote from Diego FerrerChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEIndustry

airport operations

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Second paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCERegion

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Second paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEOperating status

launched (August 16, 2021 release)

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Summary bulletsChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEReported use case

live video kiosk for a virtual customer service center at the Traveler's Aid Station

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Third paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated

SOURCEVendors Named

Boingo Wireless (design, deployment, management); Amazon Web Services (cloud hosting)

Boingo Wireless ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Third paragraphChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated