v2.4.1.9
Income taxes (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
U.S. federal:      
Current $ 6us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit $ (402)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit $ 1,651us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred 328us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 1,158us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 1,189us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total U.S. federal 334us-gaap_FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations 756us-gaap_FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations 2,840us-gaap_FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations
U.S. state and local:      
Current 226us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 248us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 327us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred 140us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 457us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (202)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total U.S. state and local 366us-gaap_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations 705us-gaap_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations 125us-gaap_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations
Reconciliation from U.S. federal statutory tax rate to effective income taxes rate      
Federal statutory rate (as a percent) 34.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 34.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 34.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State and local (as a percent) 4.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes (5.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 1.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Foreign rate differential (as a percent) (0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (3.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential  
Stock options (as a percent) (0.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost (0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost (2.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost
Non-controlling interests (as a percent) 1.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense 15.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense (2.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense
Valuation allowance (as a percent) (45.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (128.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Transaction costs (as a percent)   (6.70%)wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTransactionCosts  
Purchase price adjustments (as a percent)   6.60%wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPurchasePriceAdjustments  
Revaluation of deferred tax assets (as a percent)   2.80%wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRevaluationOfDeferredTaxAssets  
Uncertain tax positions (as a percent) (0.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies (2.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies  
Return to provision (as a percent) 0.60%wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReturnToProvision 9.30%wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReturnToProvision (5.30%)wifi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReturnToProvision
Other (as a percent) 1.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 1.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 2.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Income taxes (as a percent) (3.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations (78.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 27.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Deferred tax assets:      
Net operating loss carryforwards 10,115us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards 3,508us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards  
Outside basis differences for U.S. partnerships 3,710wifi_DeferredTaxAssetsOutsideBasisDifferencesForUSPartnerships 2,842wifi_DeferredTaxAssetsOutsideBasisDifferencesForUSPartnerships  
Stock options 3,348us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost 3,018us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost  
Deferred revenue 648us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome 516us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome  
Deferred compensation 144us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits 355us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits  
State taxes 45us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsStateTaxes 34us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsStateTaxes  
Other 1,341us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 404us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther  
Valuation allowance (12,470)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (4,101)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (1,669)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Net Deferred Tax Assets 6,881us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 6,576us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet  
Deferred tax liabilities:      
Intangible assets (6,855)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets (6,737)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets  
Property and equipment (2,671)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment (2,016)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment  
Net deferred tax liabilities (9,526)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities (8,753)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities  
Net deferred taxes (2,645)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet (2,177)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet  
Net operating loss carryforwards      
The tax effected amount of gross unnrealized net operating loss carryforwards excluded under ASC 718 6,284us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards    
Foreign loss before income taxes 1,251wifi_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeignBeforeTaxes 559wifi_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeignBeforeTaxes 61wifi_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeignBeforeTaxes
Period of cumulative results for determination of releasing valuation allowance 3 years    
Changes in the valuation allowance      
Balance at the beginning of the period 4,101us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 1,669us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 1,822us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Increase in valuation allowances on deferred tax assets 8,369us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount 2,432us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount 51us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Decrease credited to operations     (204)wifi_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetDecrease
Balance at the end of the period 12,470us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 4,101us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 1,669us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Windfall Tax Benefits from Stock Option Exercises   55wifi_WindfallTaxBenefitsFromStockOptionExercises 2,190wifi_WindfallTaxBenefitsFromStockOptionExercises
United Kingdom      
Net operating loss carryforwards      
Foreign subsidiary deferred tax asset 1,360us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_GB		    
Brazil      
Net operating loss carryforwards      
Foreign subsidiary deferred tax asset 292us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_BR		    
Federal      
Net operating loss carryforwards      
The tax effected amount of gross unnrealized net operating loss carryforwards excluded under ASC 718 35,555us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		 20,389us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		  
State      
Net operating loss carryforwards      
The tax effected amount of gross unnrealized net operating loss carryforwards excluded under ASC 718 55,457us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		 37,153us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		  
Foreign      
Net operating loss carryforwards      
The tax effected amount of gross unnrealized net operating loss carryforwards excluded under ASC 718 $ 7,661us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		 $ 3,425us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember