Home
News
You are here

Verizon has a new plan to fix terrible hospital cell service

Its new strategy involves separating visitor traffic from secure hospital operations.

1comment

By Johanna Romero

Published: Oct 21, 2025, 12:40 PM

Verizon is tackling the notoriously bad connectivity in hospitals with a new one-two punch. They're offering a neutral host network to boost signals for visitors and a separate, secure private 5G network for critical hospital operations.

What's the deal with hospital connectivity?

Let's be honest: hospital connectivity is usually a bit of a mess. Between the surge in electronic patient records, telehealth appointments, and countless connected devices, hospitals are data hogs. But at the same time, visitors and patients are often stuck in cellular dead zones.

Verizon thinks it has the solution with a two-part system. First is a "neutral host" network. This is basically a powerful, on-site signal booster for the public network. The best part? It works for everyone, whether you use Verizon, AT&T, or a prepaid service. No special logins or authentication needed, just a better signal for patients and visitors.

The second part is the private 5G network. This is the heavy-duty, secure network built just for the hospital's "mission-critical" operations. This handles the sensitive data workflows, connected medical equipment, and future tech, all with dedicated bandwidth and improved security.

According to Verizon, Ericsson is the vendor handling the buildout for both networks. The idea is that a hospital can start with the public-facing neutral host and then "activate" the private 5G as its needs grow.

A solution for hospitals

This move is all about solving two very different problems with one integrated system. Bad cell service is a massive complaint for hospital visitors, and a neutral host system fixes that without putting any strain or security risk on the hospital's own private network.

But Verizon isn't alone here. AT&T is also heavily invested in the private 5G space for healthcare, often pushing its "Private 5G as a Service" to help hospitals adopt the tech without massive upfront costs. What Verizon seems to be doing differently is clearly bundling the public convenience (neutral host) with the private necessity (5G) as a scalable package.

This isn't just about catching up; it's about providing a logical upgrade path. Hospitals are notoriously slow to adopt new tech because of cost and complexity. By saying, "Start with the visitor network, add the critical stuff later," Verizon is making the jump feel a lot less daunting for IT admins.

Do you think having two dedicated networks will improve communications in hospitals?

Yes

100%

Public access vs private operations

This approach just makes sense. The separation of "public access" and "private operations" is critical in a sensitive environment like a hospital. We've all been that person endlessly scrolling in a waiting room, trying and failing to get a single bar of service.

The real test, however, will be the implementation. Hospitals are complex, often old buildings that are absolute nightmares for wireless signals. While Ericsson is a solid partner, rolling this out will be a challenge. Let's hope this rolls out as smoothly as possible.

View Full Bio

Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.

Read the latest from Johanna Romero