The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Verizon Business a contract to install 5G and/or enhance 4G LTE networks at 35 Air Force installations across 26 states, as part of its Offer to Lease (OTL) program. The enhancements include C-Band carrier additions, new macro builds, and small cells. These upgrades, provided by Verizon Business, aim to improve mission operations at each base while enhancing the quality of life for personnel and military families.
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72 Bases Now Covered by Verizon
This award builds on Verizon Business's recent momentum with the U.S. Air Force, and broadens Verizon's 5G portfolio with the federal government, and the US Department of Defense specifically, Verizon said.
The company reported that this marks its seventh OTL win out of eight attempts. The American wireless carrier has now expanded its wireless improvements to 72 Air Force bases throughout the United States, including previous projects like the 5G Ultra Wideband deployment at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.
"This is Verizon's 7th OTL win out of 8 attempts, which serves as a testament to the trust the US Air Force has in the strength and speed of our network, as well as the quality of the professional and managed services expertise they gain from our people," said a senior vice president of Verizon Public Sector.
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Benefits of Verizon's Network Upgrades
The Air Force bases are located in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Washington, DC, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, according to a Verizon statement on January 7, 2025.
Verizon's network upgrades will support critical military applications, including telemedicine, AI-driven biometric identification, high-definition training simulations, and flight line test systems.
