Verizon Neutral Host + Private 5G for Hospitals
Hospitals are turning to a dual-network model that pairs neutral host coverage with private 5G to handle surging data, device density, and distinct user groups across large clinical campuses.
Why Neutral Host + Private 5G Now
Healthcare networks are stressed by electronic health records, telehealth, connected medical equipment, and higher patient expectations for always-on mobile service. Traditional DAS systems struggle with capacity, multi-operator complexity, and upgrade cycles, while Wi‑Fi alone cannot meet all mobility, security, and QoS requirements. A combined neutral host and private 5G architecture lets IT leaders segment traffic and policy by role and use case, align with data sovereignty requirements, and scale capacity as device fleets and AI-driven workflows grow.
Early Healthcare Adopters
AdventHealth and Tampa General Hospital have signed with Verizon Business for neutral host or combined neutral host and private 5G deployments, with Ericsson providing the on-premises platform. Verizon is showcasing the approach during HLTH USA 2025 in Las Vegas, reflecting growing interest from healthcare CIOs seeking consistent public-network connectivity for patients and guests alongside mission-critical private 5G for clinical operations.
How Neutral Host + Private 5G Works
The model separates public cellular access for general users from dedicated private 5G for clinical and operational workloads, delivered over shared on-premises infrastructure.
Neutral Host for Patient and Visitor Coverage
The neutral host network strengthens mobile service across the campus so patients, visitors, and non-mission-critical staff devices connect as they would in a well-covered public venue. Coverage is automatic and seamless, and the architecture helps consolidate indoor cellular investments versus managing carrier-specific builds or legacy DAS expansion.
Private 5G for Clinical and Operational Use Cases
The private 5G layer provides dedicated bandwidth, low latency, and granular policy control for sensitive applications. Hospitals can run RTLS and asset tracking, smart beds and telemetry, digital wayfinding, robotics pilots, imaging offload, and secure staff communications. Verizon also supports a phased path: facilities can deploy neutral host today with a latent private 5G core and activate it as high-assurance use cases move from pilot to production.
Spectrum, RAN, Core, and Edge Options
Deployments use on-premises RAN and a private 5G core, with spectrum options aligned to hospital requirements and regulatory constraints. Facilities can integrate with edge compute for data locality and performance, and Ericsson’s platform underpins the solution for consistent lifecycle management and upgrades.
Security, Segmentation, and HIPAA Alignment
Network segmentation isolates clinical data and operational traffic from guest connections. Role-based access, device-level policies, and QoS ensure the right performance for the right users, while keeping sensitive workflows on private infrastructure to support HIPAA-aligned governance. The design complements existing identity systems, SIEM/SOC workflows, and zero-trust initiatives common in healthcare.
Case Studies: AdventHealth and Tampa General
Two recent projects illustrate how the combined model replaces legacy systems and supports future-ready use cases.
AdventHealth: Campus Mobility and Clinical Modernization
AdventHealth is building a next-generation campus that blends care delivery with hospitality elements such as retail and community spaces. Neutral host coverage supports visitors and non-clinical services, while private 5G powers operational needs like real-time location services, smart beds, and a growing inventory of connected equipment. The architecture gives IT confidence to onboard new surgical and clinical technologies without network bottlenecks.
Tampa General: DAS Replacement and 5G Growth Path
Tampa General sought to improve reliability after EHR upgrades and as it expands facilities. Verizon’s neutral host solution replaces an outdated DAS to deliver consistent connectivity for staff and visitors. The site includes a private 5G core that can be enabled later to support clinical, academic, and research initiatives planned for a new tower, aligning spend with a staged use-case roadmap.
Strategic Guidance for Healthcare CIOs
A pragmatic two-layer design can de-risk digital transformation while improving connectivity for every stakeholder on campus.
Replace or Augment DAS with Neutral Host
Neutral host often reduces total cost and complexity versus multi-operator DAS, adds capacity, and streamlines modernization. It can also smooth carrier coordination and lifecycle upgrades as 5G features evolve.
Plan for Multi‑Tenant Users and Devices
Hospitals serve clinicians, administrators, patients, contractors, and thousands of devices. A combined design maps policies, priority, and security to each cohort. Ensure clean coexistence with Wi‑Fi 6/6E for indoor data offload and choose roaming and handoff policies that minimize friction for staff.
Build a Phased Neutral Host/Private 5G Roadmap
Start with neutral host to fix coverage and experience quickly. Activate private 5G when mission-critical use cases and governance are ready. Define a three-year plan with milestones, clinical champions, and KPIs such as EHR performance, RTLS accuracy, device onboarding time, and outage reduction.
Integration, SLAs, and Operations
Tie the private core and policy engine to identity, EHR, RTLS, and CMMS systems. Validate RF coexistence with medical equipment and establish SLAs that reflect clinical priorities. Train biomed and facilities teams on lifecycle tasks, change controls, and incident response to maintain hospital-grade reliability.
What’s Next for Hospital 5G
As hospitals scale digital capabilities, network choices will shape AI deployment, clinical safety, and operating costs.
AI and Edge in Clinical Settings
Expect more on-prem AI for imaging triage, ambient documentation, and computer vision in supply and safety. Private 5G with local compute can keep sensitive data onsite while supporting low-latency workflows.
Ecosystem, Standards, and Network Slicing
Watch for enhanced indoor 5G features, network slicing capabilities, and maturing neutral host frameworks that simplify multi-operator support. Vendor interoperability and lifecycle consistency will be key for multi-site health systems.
Funding Models and Partnerships
Public-private models and open-access investments in some regions signal broader momentum for shared infrastructure. Health systems can leverage similar partnership structures to accelerate indoor mobility upgrades across large campus portfolios.
Action Checklist for Health Systems
Audit indoor cellular and Wi‑Fi performance, prioritize high-impact buildings, and issue an RFP that covers neutral host and private 5G with clear clinical use cases, security controls, and SLAs. Pilot in one tower, measure outcomes, and scale with a governance model that aligns network investment to clinical value.
