From May to August of this year, Washington State Ferries (WSF) will be testing free Wi-Fi at the Bremerton ferry terminal and on the Chimacum vessel, which serves the Bremerton-Seattle route.

Free Wi-Fi with WSF terminals and boats has not been available before this year. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) released information on the Wi-Fi Pilot Program in December. “WSF currently provides no public internet service, and a previous private-sector attempt in the late 2000s was unable to sustain operations due to low revenue and high infrastructure costs,” WSDOT stated. “The Legislature has asked WSF to evaluate the viability, cost, operational implications, and funding models for a modern public Wi-Fi program.”

The pilot program will assess technical feasibility, customer usage, operational support, cost and funding, and the risks and constraints of the test. The test began this January with vendor selection, moving forward each month with a new step of the program.

By May, equipment will be installed at the chosen locations, and the pilot operation will run until August 2026. WSDOT will do data analysis and reporting in September.

Within the study, WSDOT and WSF will identify different Wi-Fi operating systems and options for future use. They have stated in their report that this includes free service, fee-based service, or hybrid models for use of Wi-Fi at terminals and on vessels.

WSDOT will also be testing the connection and range of Wi-Fi during sailings between the Bremerton terminal and the Chimacum vessel. WSF will be looking at user satisfaction from the pilot, along with usage patterns and expectations of customers.

One of the risks discussed is the cost it will take for WSDOT to complete the testing. “The proposed pilot is unfunded and must be completed using existing WSF resources,” the document released by WSDOT in December stated. “Early estimates for a two-terminal pilot suggest capital costs could range between $50,000 and $60,000 if limited to passenger areas. However, a revised estimate for a single-terminal, single-vessel pilot suggests capital costs could range between $100,000 and $150,000.”

If the pilot program is successful, there are hopes from the community that Wi-Fi will be tested or available free of charge at other WSF terminals and vessels. WSDOT identified the high cost factor if the services were to be implemented at other locations. “Full system-wide deployment would likely require a multi-million-dollar capital investment and ongoing operational costs in the seven-figure range, depending on the chosen service model,” per WSDOT.

Potential funding approaches for broader development include state-funded deployment, vendor-funded, public-private partnership, or a combination of free Wi-Fi service for passengers, as well as premium service to generate revenue.

“The proposed public Wi-Fi pilot at the Bremerton terminal and aboard the M/V Chimacum represents a practical, data-driven approach to evaluating the feasibility of a modern Wi-Fi service for ferry passengers,” said WSDOT. “WSF will continue to keep the Legislature informed of our progress throughout the duration of the pilot.”