Verizon Details Network Upgrades and Connected Tech Across the 2026 NFL Season

Verizon, an official NFL partner since 2010, has outlined its network and connected-technology work for the 2026 NFL season, spanning officiating, coach communications and stadium connectivity for fans.

Since the start of the 2025 season, five officials per game have worn league-issued connected watches powered by Verizon's private wireless network. The watches are integrated with live data tracking systems and deliver real-time alerts including game and play clock, line-to-gain virtual measurement results and punt out-of-bounds location.

The private network was first deployed across all 30 U.S. NFL stadiums in 2023 to secure coach-to-coach communications against stadium signal interference. This season Verizon is deploying temporary private networks across nine international games in eight overseas venues.

During NFL Kickoff Weekend, Verizon customers used 120.7 terabytes of data across 15 U.S. games, up nearly 140% from 2024 Kickoff Weekend. Verizon says that is equivalent to 230 years of continuous, non-repeating music streaming, or about 30 million songs.

Since last season, Verizon has upgraded its networks in ten stadiums, adding 5G C-band and mmWave DRAN (Distributed Radio Access Network) technology in the highest-capacity areas, supplemented by Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) in lower-capacity areas that support all wireless carriers. Verizon describes the investments as multi-hundred-million-dollar.

Highmark Stadium (Buffalo Bills): Verizon is the Official 5G Network and a Founding Partner of the new stadium. It installed a neutral host DAS and DRAN technology, extending DRAN coverage into parking lots. The stadium also has Wi-Fi, high-definition video distribution through concourses, suites and common areas, a secure network backbone for venue data and mission-critical systems, and Verizon-provided phones and tablets for stadium staff.

C-band additions and expansions: Northwest Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, Reliant Stadium, Acrisure Stadium and Lumen Field. Verizon also added parking lot capacity at Empower Field.

Caesars Superdome: 509 DRAN mmWave radios, 155 C-band radios and high-power overhead antennas.

NRG Stadium: 45 hybrid DRAN nodes with micro-sectoring, backed by dual 100 Gbps fiber links.

Whether it's giving fans the power to share the big moments from their seats or delivering instant, mission-critical connectivity to coaches on the field, our network evolution is transforming every aspect of the game, says Joe Russo, EVP and President of Global Networks and Technology, Verizon. We are laying a high-speed, low-latency foundation that will power live sports operations and fan engagement for years to come. And, we're not sitting on the sidelines, we're actively testing and exploring new innovations with the NFL, leveraging the private network. As an avid fan and former player in my day, driving this game-changing evolution is personally so exciting for me, and the best is yet to come.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/11/04/verizon-details-network-upgrade...
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