Verizon Unveils Portable Private Network Service

Verizon unveiled the first portable private network service for deployments across sports stadiums and entertainment venues when permanent networks are not available. The operator said its prototype network in a box offering provided connectivity for a recent United Football League championship American football game in the US.

It shipped similar portable private networks to Sao Paulo, Brazil, London, UK, and Munich, Germany to provide connectivity for US National League Football (NFL) game operations. Similar to its permanent private 5G network NFL deployments, the portable services will enable in-game support for on-field coach-to-coach communications for overseas football games in the coming months.

Verizon said the service can be customized as needed by using either the operator’s spectrum or a range of additional spectrum when it's used overseas. Andrea Caldini, VP of technology and product development at Verizon, stated the service could be deployed across various scenarios such as one-time parade routes, mobile production environments, mobile sporting events, outdoor concert venues, and more. The service can support up to 50 cellular radios using the shared or licensed spectrum as well as in-venue or on-premises fiber connections.