Private wireless networks have become a key driver of innovation in our nation’s aviation industry. More flexible than traditional wired connections, private networks give airports the freedom to build and operate their own networks on their own terms to meet the unique needs of their facilities. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band is a top choice for many airports when building their networks due to its wide variety of uses. Read what industry leaders are saying about how CBRS has changed their operations.
“From an efficiency standpoint, we know that IoT is going to grow. We know that autonomous vehicles will be a future mode of transportation, and we know that robotics, AR and VR are going to take a more active role in the future. Automation will be used below the wing and above the wing and in the terminals and to move packages around for our cargo business or people through the airport. These new technologies require better connectivity – and this means more bandwidth, lower latency, and appropriate security.”
Paul Puopolo, Executive Vice President of Innovation, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW), September 13, 2022
“Private Wireless Networks offer numerous advantages for airports, including tailored coverage, capacity and bandwidth shaping for critical applications such as security cameras and maintenance systems. They provide enhanced data control by keeping sensitive information on-premises, improving security through isolation from public cellular networks. They truly bring a fast, secure and low latency wireless option to the connectivity arsenal, which is quite strategic for large campuses like airports.”
Eduardo Valencia, Chief Information Officer, Metropolitan Airports Commission, September 2024
“We wanted to be a smarter airport…We’re 3,300 acres, with no room to expand. We wanted to be more efficient, and to improve situational awareness and make data-driven decisions… We wanted to put CCTV on the airport perimeter – which would have meant 6,000 feet of fiber conduit and trenching permits, and all the rest. Whereas with a private wireless, we can do that in half the time, at half the cost. So that was very attractive. And we started piloting some CCTV projects in 2021, and – from there, with the more we learned – there were other things we saw.”
Johnathan Lewis, Director of Innovation, Miami International Airport (MIA), December 5, 2024
“We did our deployment in less than 12 months, covering 27 square miles, which I think is an incredible feat…Some of the things I really like about what we can do with the technology – being able to splice it, being able to bridge the spectrum together to really customize it to our needs and being able to separate those streams. If I have competing customers that are all part of the same infrastructure, I can give them their own slice and manage it accordingly.”
Cornelius Honour, Assistant Vice President, IT Infrastructure and Operations, DFW, May 12, 2025
“Our Private Cellular solution delivers significant efficiency gains at the airport. It provides a secure, easy way for our team to manage the Access Control System connected across the entire airport.”
Coeur D’Alene Airport (COE) Operations Team, COE, January 16, 2026
“The 5G network enables us to extend reliable internet service to areas of the airport that were previously unconnected due to the prohibitive cost of installing traditional infrastructure. The system provides a cost-effective solution that meets the evolving needs of both the airport and its customers.”
Mark Scandalis, Airport Manager, Paso Robles Airport, July 2, 2026
“The most impressive thing was the reliability, because we never had any minute of unplanned outage during the POC and now in the operational phase. There never was any outage. And with the stable connectivity, we improved our process speed by between 70 and 80%, which is awesome.”
Mario Schwarz, Operations Manager, Lufthansa Cargo, February 26, 2026
“As a long-time advocate of private wireless networks, we recognize their potential to transform our airport operations. The CBRS platform proved to be the perfect fit for our Smart Airport initiatives.”
Ralph Cutié, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, September 11, 2024
“Boingo Wireless has deployed a world-class network that fulfills passenger demand for fast, seamless connectivity, while also providing a robust connectivity backbone to support digital airport operations. Newark Terminal A is utilizing a combination of leading wireless technologies to create a tech-forward experience for travelers and airport employees.”
Robert Galvin, Chief Technology Officer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, February 7, 2023
“Purdue Airport has proven to be a key location in Indiana to aid commercial and industrial consumers. This collaboration enables us to study and better understand technologies that will be fundamental to airports of the future.”
Adam Baxmeyer, Purdue Airport Manager, March 20, 2023
“We believe that what TUL is doing will be the model for many small and mid-sized airports around the world by investing in their enhanced capabilities now and letting the commercial use cases evolve. By doing so, TUL will be ready to work with the airlines to drive automation through AI and automation for improved operations and enhancing passenger journey.”
Brent Wall, Director of Innovation and Technology, Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, July 11, 2025