Vertical: Healthcare
Application: Real-time location services, asset tracking, smart beds, connected medical equipment, guest mobile coverage
Ecosystem: Verizon Business, Ericsson
Private Network: 5G
AdventHealth and Tampa General Hospital have partnered with Verizon Business to deploy hybrid networks combining neutral host cellular coverage with private 5G capabilities, using Ericsson’s on-premises infrastructure platform.
Healthcare facilities face mounting networking demands from electronic health records, telemedicine, connected medical devices, and patients expecting reliable mobile service. Traditional distributed antenna systems struggle with capacity requirements and multi-carrier coordination needed in modern hospitals.
The dual-layer architecture separates network traffic types. The neutral host component provides automatic enhanced cellular coverage for patients and visitors without special configuration. The private 5G layer delivers dedicated bandwidth and policy controls for clinical applications including real-time location services, smart bed monitoring, and medical imaging workflows.
AdventHealth, operating across ten states with over 100,000 employees, is building facilities that blend care delivery with community spaces. The neutral host network supports public access while private 5G powers operational needs and expanding medical equipment connectivity, preventing bottlenecks as new clinical technologies deploy.
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed academic medical center serving western Florida, needed improved reliability after EHR upgrades. The neutral host deployment replaces aging DAS infrastructure, while an installed but dormant private 5G core awaits activation for future clinical and research initiatives.
Network segmentation isolates clinical data from guest connections. Role-based access, device policies, and quality parameters ensure appropriate performance while maintaining HIPAA compliance. The system integrates with existing identity management, security tools, and zero-trust frameworks.
Healthcare IT leaders should begin with neutral host deployment to resolve coverage gaps, then activate private 5G as mission-critical applications mature. Implementation requires connecting the private core with identity systems, electronic health records, and location tracking platforms. Organizations must verify radio frequency compatibility with medical equipment and establish clinical-priority service agreements.
Future developments include on-premises AI for imaging triage and ambient documentation. Private 5G with edge computing keeps sensitive data local while supporting latency-critical workflows. Health systems should monitor emerging network slicing capabilities and multi-operator frameworks.
