Verizon Business Strengthens Healthcare Connectivity with Combined Neutral Host and Private 5G Networks
San Francisco, CA — As hospitals and healthcare systems face mounting data and connectivity demands, Verizon Business is introducing a new approach to on-premises networking that blends Neutral Host and Private 5G Networks into a unified infrastructure designed to serve both public and mission-critical healthcare operations.
Healthcare CIOs and administrators are grappling with the operational challenges created by the rise of electronic medical records, connected medical devices, telehealth services, and data-rich clinical workflows. The result is an exponential increase in the amount of healthcare data being generated, transmitted, and analyzed within hospital campuses — making high-speed, secure, and scalable connectivity more important than ever.
At the same time, hospital environments must now support a wide range of user groups and devices: clinicians and researchers handling sensitive patient data, administrators managing operations, and patients and visitors using personal devices. The combination of Verizon’s Neutral Host and Private 5G Network architecture aims to meet these distinct needs simultaneously — delivering both robust public connectivity and secure private network performance.
A Two-Layer Network for Modern Healthcare Campuses
The Neutral Host component of Verizon’s network enables patients, visitors, and general staff to automatically connect to a strong and reliable mobile signal while on hospital grounds, without requiring any additional setup or software. It effectively turns the hospital campus into a high-coverage zone for all mobile users, improving convenience and reducing connectivity dead zones that are common in large healthcare facilities.
In parallel, the Private 5G Network serves as a dedicated, high-bandwidth environment supporting clinical operations, sensitive data workflows, and advanced connected applications such as smart hospital beds, asset tracking, real-time location services, and other emerging digital health technologies. The private network delivers low-latency performance, enhanced security, and the scalability needed to integrate thousands of connected devices across departments.
Together, the two networks allow hospitals to manage both everyday communications and specialized operational systems on-site — ensuring business continuity, supporting innovation, and preparing facilities for the next wave of digital transformation.
Real-World Implementations: AdventHealth and Tampa General Hospital
Two leading health systems, AdventHealth and Tampa General Hospital, have already deployed Verizon’s dual-network solution.
AdventHealth is leveraging the combined infrastructure as part of its “hospital of the future” initiative, which reimagines the patient experience through advanced design and technology. The new facility integrates healthcare, hospitality, and community spaces — including restaurants, retail, and wellness areas — all connected through Verizon’s integrated network. The Neutral Host Network supports public and non-clinical connectivity, while the Private 5G Network underpins operational systems and clinical innovation. This setup allows AdventHealth to expand confidently into AI-driven applications, robotic-assisted surgery, and smart infrastructure without worrying about bandwidth or security limitations.
Tampa General Hospital, on the other hand, adopted Verizon’s solution to replace its outdated Distributed Antenna System (DAS). The hospital had faced connectivity challenges that impacted clinical efficiency and visitor experience. By implementing Verizon’s Neutral Host Network, Tampa General improved reliability for both staff and guests while installing a latent Private 5G core — ready to be activated as the hospital expands its digital initiatives in clinical research and care delivery.
Expert Perspectives
“Verizon pioneered an innovative and resourceful approach to enterprise networking with their Neutral Host and Private 5G combo solution, which efficiently covers nearly any premises that requires both public and private data needs,” said Paul Hughes, Research Director at IDC. “Hospitals are a prime example, with multiple user groups, a variety of connected devices, and the need for both front-of-house convenience and back-of-house data security.”
Scott Arnold, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Tampa General Hospital, added: “Our patients’ experience onsite and the integrity of their data are of utmost importance, which made it a no-brainer to switch to Verizon’s combination Neutral Host and Private 5G Network. Our connectivity is much more responsive and reliable, allowing us to get the information we need when we need it. As a result, our operations run more smoothly, and most importantly, the care we deliver is better than ever.”
Jennifer Artley, SVP of 5G Acceleration at Verizon Business, emphasized scalability and performance: “As digital adoption continues to increase in the healthcare sector, providers require network solutions that can scale across multiple sites and use cases. Verizon’s network helps patients, guests, and hospital staff maintain connectivity and operations while enabling the delivery of top-quality care.”
Hannes Ekström, Senior Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Verizon for Ericsson Americas, which provides the platform for the network buildouts, noted: “Healthcare is undergoing rapid digital transformation, and advanced networks are essential to this evolution. Together with Verizon, we’re enabling AI-driven innovations that help hospital staff enhance patient care, streamline operations, and future-proof healthcare facilities.”
Laying the Foundation for the Future of Connected Care
As healthcare organizations continue to evolve into data-centric, technology-driven ecosystems, connectivity has become as vital as clinical equipment itself. Verizon’s combination of Neutral Host and Private 5G Networks offers hospitals a way to manage complex data demands across user groups and devices, while maintaining the reliability, security, and scalability required for modern healthcare delivery.
By establishing flexible, future-ready network infrastructures, hospitals like AdventHealth and Tampa General are not just solving today’s connectivity challenges — they are laying the groundwork for next-generation care models powered by AI, automation, and advanced digital tools.
