en.Wedoany.com Reported - Comcast Business has completed the deployment of a private wireless network at Smartlink's headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland. Smartlink, a digital infrastructure services provider serving carriers and tower companies across the United States—with operations spanning the design, construction, and maintenance of wireless infrastructure—chose Comcast Business to address connectivity issues within its headquarters building.
The deployment integrates carrier-grade Neutral Host cellular coverage with a dedicated private wireless network based on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) into a single management platform. Signal-attenuating materials, energy-efficient glass, and dense floor layouts commonly found in office buildings can weaken cellular signal reception, leading to dropped calls and dead zones; meanwhile, smart building applications such as security cameras, occupancy sensors, and access control require a dedicated and secure wireless connectivity layer that standard office WiFi struggles to support. Traditionally, enterprises have had to deploy multiple systems—including distributed antenna systems (DAS), WiFi networks, and dedicated operational networks—involving different vendors, infrastructure investments, and management models, resulting in significant cost and operational complexity.
The Neutral Host component of the platform operates via a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) gateway and cellular radio equipment, delivering cellular voice and data services to users of all carriers within the building. Leveraging Comcast Business's carrier relationships and shared infrastructure model, the platform integrates directly with major national carriers to fill coverage gaps in large commercial office buildings, without incurring the deployment costs and complexity of traditional DAS solutions. Built on the same cellular radio and management platform, the solution also offers dedicated CBRS private network capabilities based on a cloud-native 4G/5G mobile core network, which operates independently of public carrier traffic. This provides a securely isolated connectivity environment for enterprise and smart building applications such as cameras, remote access control, environmental and occupancy sensors, asset tracking, and digital signage, all without adding burden to existing IT infrastructure.
The deployment features enterprise-grade security based on SIM credentials and traffic encryption; the architecture can be scaled or adjusted to accommodate new use cases and requirements; and the cloud infrastructure and CBRS radio equipment support rapid installation while minimizing disruption to day-to-day operations.
The Smartlink project extends Comcast Business's private wireless portfolio into the commercial office market. The company has previously deployed a Neutral Host network at the University of Virginia campus, a private wireless network at The Sound Hotel in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, and a dedicated 5G network for the Cleveland Cavaliers' Rocket Arena, all of which rely on its licensed CBRS spectrum, cloud infrastructure, and carrier partnerships. The Smartlink deployment provides a replicable implementation model for other enterprises and commercial property owners.
Smartlink CEO Jason Campbell stated that the team had previously struggled to find a network solution that could meet its growing connectivity needs, and Comcast Business resolved the coverage challenge with a single solution, providing a dedicated operational network at a price that was easy to justify. Justin Markle, Senior Vice President of Wireless Development and Partnerships at Comcast, noted that the commercial office market has long weighed insufficient cellular coverage against the investment in multiple network systems; by combining carrier-grade cellular service and private wireless operations into a single scalable solution on a unified management platform, organizations can streamline connectivity and manage costs.
