Verizon lights up a US military base with 5G

The Marine Corps is exploring making military bases smarter with the next-gen network. It's starting with the Miramar air station.

Corinne Reichert Senior Editor

Corinne Reichert (she/her) grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to California in 2019. She holds degrees in law and communications, and currently writes news, analysis and features for CNET across the topics of electric vehicles, broadband networks, mobile devices, big tech, artificial intelligence, home technology and entertainment. In her spare time, she watches soccer games and F1 races, and goes to Disneyland as often as possible.

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I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.

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Corinne Reichert

July 22, 2020 12:29 p.m. PT

marines miramar — Verizon has installed a 5G network at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Verizon

Verizon has switched on 5G at a US military base. The 5G network has been installed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in California so the US Marine Corps can create a lab to look into how 5G can be used across communications, drones , base security, connected vehicles and energy management, Verizon said Wednesday.

"This is a critical step to accelerate the nation's 5G aspirations," said Lt. Col. Brandon Newell, director of technology and partnerships for the Marine Corps Installation Next program. "This effort is critical to national security. The establishment of this 5G living lab expedites the nation's ability to leverage 5G for national defense."

MCAS Miramar will also explore how 5G can "improve cybersecurity, enhance the use of unmanned ground systems and drone delivery, and more," said Andrés Irlando, senior vice president for Verizon's public sector business.

Verizon has launched its 5G network in parts of 35 cities across the US: Los Angeles; New York City; Washington, DC; Chicago; San Diego; Dallas; Boston; Phoenix; Houston; Miami; Atlanta; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Boise, Idaho; Cincinnati; Denver; Greensboro, North Carolina; Cleveland; Des Moines, Iowa; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Hoboken, New Jersey; Providence, Rhode Island; Indianapolis; Memphis, Tennessee; Omaha, Nebraska; Salt Lake City; Kansas City, Missouri; Panama City, Florida; Sioux Falls, Indiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Minneapolis; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Spokane, Washington.