Publicroam
Publicroam operates a federated secure WiFi roaming network across 1,900+ locations in six European countries, serving 570,000+ end users via a free mobile app and SMS authentication. Revenue is generated through recurring subscriptions from 250+ participating public-sector and institutional organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersZeist, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Publicroam does
Publicroam, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Zeist, Netherlands, operates a federated WiFi roaming network that enables end users to automatically and securely connect to guest WiFi at participating organizations without re-authenticating after initial registration. The platform supports cross-platform compatibility across iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux, and offers three onboarding paths: a mobile app on iOS App Store and Google Play, web-based registration, and SMS-based authentication. Underlying technology includes encrypted data transmission and storage, rogue AP detection to protect against fake WiFi networks, and GDPR/AVG-compliant privacy practices. The network spans 1,900+ locations and serves 570,000+ registered users across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
The company's business model is a two-sided B2B2C structure: the service is free for end users, while 250+ participating organizations — including municipalities, libraries, healthcare facilities, museums, theaters, sports centers, and co-working spaces — pay recurring subscription fees to integrate their WiFi infrastructure into the Publicroam roaming fabric. Distribution combines product-led growth (app store downloads, website self-registration) for end users with a dedicated enterprise enrollment portal at join.publicroam.net for organizational partners. Revenue, funding, headcount beyond the 1-10 range, and ownership details are not publicly disclosed; the company operates as an independent private entity with no evidenced venture capital or parent company involvement.
Publicroam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Publicroam
- Website
- https://publicroam.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Publicroam operates a federated secure WiFi roaming network across 1,900+ locations in six European countries, serving 570,000+ end users via a free mobile app and SMS authentication. Revenue is generated through recurring subscriptions from 250+ participating public-sector and institutional organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Publicroam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public WiFi Roaming Services
- NAICS
- Telecommunications Resellers (517121)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation (BPAMAEAF)
Keywords
Where Publicroam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zeist
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Publicroam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Organization Subscription: Publicroam is free for end users but monetizes by charging participating organizations (libraries, municipalities, healthcare facilities, museums, etc.) for inclusion in the network. Organizations pay to have their WiFi networks integrated into the Publicroam roaming infrastructure, enabling their visitors to access secure WiFi across all participating locations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access for end users |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Publicroam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Publicroam operates a federated, secure WiFi roaming network spanning 1,900+ locations across the Netherlands (and expanding in Belgium and other European markets). End users register once via the Publicroam mobile app (iOS/Android) or SMS and then automatically and securely connect to WiFi at participating libraries, municipalities, healthcare facilities, museums, theaters, sports centers, and coworking spaces without re-authenticating. The service is free for individual users; participating organizations pay recurring fees to integrate their WiFi networks into the Publicroam roaming federation.
Product overview
Publicroam is a unified WiFi roaming network service that operates as a single integrated offering combining a mobile app and a distributed WiFi network infrastructure. The core product consists of the Publicroam App (available for iOS and Android) which serves as the authentication and connection mechanism, working in conjunction with the underlying Publicroam WiFi Network Service spanning 1,900+ locations. Users register once via the app or SMS, and thereafter connect automatically at any participating location without re-authenticating. The service is free for end users and is funded by participating organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Publicroam App Cross-platform mobile application (iOS and Android) that enables users to register for Publicroam once and then automatically and securely connect to WiFi at all participating locations, and to add additional devices (laptop, tablet) using credentials issued via the app.
- Publicroam WiFi Roaming Network Service Managed, secure, GDPR-compliant WiFi roaming service connecting end users through a single credential to WiFi networks at 1,900+ libraries, municipalities, healthcare facilities, museums, theaters, sports centers, and coworking spaces; offered free to end users and funded by participating organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,900+ locations across Netherlands and expanding internationally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Publicroam
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Publicroam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Publicroam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Publicroam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Instabridge: Mobile app that crowdsources WiFi passwords and provides automatic connection at millions of hotspots worldwide. Shares Publicroam's PLG, free-for-users, automatic-connection approach, but relies on crowdsourced credentials rather than an institutional venue subscription model.
- iPass: Was a global WiFi roaming aggregator providing a single credential for hotspot access across many venues — historically the most direct analogue to Publicroam's model. Now operates at smaller scale after restructuring but remains a structural peer in WiFi federation.
- eduroam: International WiFi roaming service for the academic and research community, allowing users from participating institutions to authenticate automatically at any eduroam-enabled venue. Conceptually the closest analogue to Publicroam's federated single-credential public WiFi model, though eduroam is non-profit and limited to academia.
- Purple WiFi: Guest WiFi and analytics platform deployed at venues to provide captive portal login, analytics, and marketing. Targets the same institutional/public-sector buyer as Publicroam (libraries, venues, municipalities) with a venue-side SaaS model rather than a user-side roaming federation.
- Boingo Wireless: Aggregates WiFi access across airports, stadiums, transit hubs and public venues, providing a single sign-on experience across many locations. Like Publicroam, Boingo runs a federated WiFi model and sells venue access as a managed service, but at much larger scale and with paid end-user passes.
- Cloud4Wi: Cloud platform for managing guest WiFi, location analytics, and marketing across multi-location enterprises. Comparable to Publicroam in serving multi-venue operators with managed WiFi services, though its monetization is centered on analytics/marketing rather than federation.
- Fon: Operates a global community WiFi sharing network where users share home/venue hotspots in exchange for roaming access elsewhere. Publicroam's federation model — single credential across many venues — is structurally similar to Fon's model, though Publicroam focuses on institutional/public-sector venues rather than consumer homes.
Emerging players
- Zenreach: Guest WiFi marketing and customer data platform for brick-and-mortar venues, with automatic guest connection. Targets overlapping venue buyers as Publicroam but focuses on marketing/CRM outcomes rather than federated cross-venue roaming for end users.
Broad incumbents
- Aruba Networks (HPE): Major enterprise WiFi and network access vendor (part of HPE) with ClearPass for guest access and policy management. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing the underlying WiFi and AAA infrastructure that venues deploy, and which Publicroam integrates on top of.
- Cisco (Wireless / Networking): Largest vendor of enterprise WiFi infrastructure and network access control, including solutions that touch on guest access and identity. While Cisco does not run a public WiFi federation for end users, its WiFi/identity stack competes for the same institutional IT budgets that Publicroam addresses.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Publicroam social profiles
Digital presencePublicroam compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Publicroam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Publicroam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Publicroam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Publicroam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Publicroam
What does Publicroam do?
Publicroam operates a federated, secure WiFi roaming network spanning 1,900+ locations across the Netherlands (and expanding in Belgium and other European markets). End users register once via the Publicroam mobile app (iOS/Android) or SMS and then automatically and securely connect to WiFi at participating libraries, municipalities, healthcare facilities, museums, theaters, sports centers, and coworking spaces without re-authenticating. The service is free for individual users; participating organizations pay recurring fees to integrate their WiFi networks into the Publicroam roaming federation.
Is Publicroam a public or private company?
Publicroam is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Publicroam founded?
Publicroam was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Publicroam based?
Publicroam is headquartered in Zeist, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Publicroam make money?
One revenue line is on record: organization Subscription.
Who are Publicroam's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Instabridge, iPass, eduroam, Purple WiFi, Boingo Wireless, Cloud4Wi and Fon. Zenreach is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Aruba Networks (HPE) and Cisco (Wireless / Networking).
Does Publicroam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Publicroam.
What industry is Publicroam in?
Publicroam's product category is Public WiFi Roaming Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAEAF, Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation. Its NAICS code is 517121.