Reported CBRS private wireless network at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas

Overview

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas runs a private wireless network on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum that covered the whole campus outdoors, about 27 square miles, according to the airport's assistant vice president for IT infrastructure and operations in an interview the OnGo Alliance published on May 12, 2025.^[1] DFW announced a partnership with AT&T on May 4, 2023 that included a private 5G network for the airport's internal use,^[2] and Light Reading reported that AT&T's five-year, $10 million contract had Nokia supplying equipment for about 33 CBRS sites, with DFW owning the core and running it at the airport.^[3] Before the contract, DFW ran two CBRS trials, one with Betacom at an American Airlines gate for baggage sorting and one with Samsung and Harman for cargo tracking.^[4] DFW says it turned to private wireless because running fiber to remote endpoints on its campus was expensive and slow.^[1]

At a glance

Organization

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).^[1][2]

Location

DFW Airport, Texas; the airport describes its campus as a little over 27 square miles.^[1][2]

Date reported

AT&T partnership announced May 4, 2023;^[2] full outdoor campus coverage reported in an interview published May 12, 2025.^[1]

Spectrum

CBRS.^[1] In November 2022 a DFW executive told Light Reading the airport planned to use the General Authorized Access (GAA) tier.^[4]

Technology

Described by DFW and AT&T as a private 5G network.^[2] Light Reading reported that the private CBRS network and the airport's Wi-Fi would be managed through one platform, and that DFW would own the core and run it at the airport.^[3] Standalone or non-standalone mode is not publicly stated.

Scale as reported

About 33 CBRS transmission sites, per Light Reading in May 2023.^[3] In May 2025 DFW reported full outdoor coverage of the campus, roughly 800 to 900 iPad users, and more than 40 cameras running only on the private network.^[1]

Vendors and roles

AT&T: contractor for the private 5G network and Wi-Fi upgrade.^[2][3] Nokia: equipment for the CBRS sites; Cisco: about 200 new Wi-Fi access points, according to Light Reading.^[3] The 2025 interview does not name the network's suppliers, though DFW's executive said Nokia set up a demonstration network in about two hours during the proof-of-concept stage.^[1]

Earlier trials

Betacom ran a CBRS trial at American Airlines gate A9 to support baggage sorting, with Druid Software and Airspan as partners; Samsung and Harman ran a second trial for cargo asset tracking.^[4][5]

Integrator

Not publicly stated beyond AT&T.

Status

In production with full outdoor campus coverage, according to DFW's assistant vice president in the interview published May 12, 2025.^[1]

How the network is used

• Cameras at construction sites and elsewhere on the campus; DFW reported more than 40 cameras running only on the private network (video surveillance).^[1]
• Staff iPads indoors and outdoors; staff who request on-campus-only devices are placed on the CBRS network through the airport's IT ticketing process (campus and in-building).^[1]
• Digital signage that is not attached to a building, which previously required trenching and civil work for fiber.^[1]
• Apron operations under aircraft wings, where baggage and cargo scanners need reliable coverage that Wi-Fi and public cellular struggle to provide.^[1]
• Live-streaming a 5K race held on a runway, an area with weak public cellular coverage.^[1]
• Explored as of May 2025: vehicle tracking on the airfield, lighting sensors, and autonomous drone operations.^[1] In 2023 the airport also listed concession status monitoring, escalator and moving-walkway tracking, remote solar-powered cameras, and autonomous shuttle tests in parking facilities.^[3]

Reported results

As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.

• DFW's assistant vice president, Cornelius Honour, said a fiber connection to one endpoint within about 1,000 yards of a meet-me point costs at least about $50,000, compared with under $1,000 for a CBRS field router or dongle. These are the airport's own estimates.^[1]
• He said the outdoor deployment covered 27 square miles in less than 12 months, while indoor rollout is slower because it needs more mapping and hardware.^[1]
• The OnGo Alliance article says an early commercial pilot showed transaction speeds 50 to 70% faster than public cellular networks; the test method is not published.^[1]
• Device compatibility remains a challenge, he said, especially for older devices without native CBRS support.^[1]

Timeline

1. May 12, 2025

   The OnGo Alliance publishes an interview in which DFW reports full outdoor campus coverage on its CBRS network.^[1]

2. May 26, 2023

   Light Reading reports AT&T won the five-year, $10 million contract, with Nokia supplying equipment for about 33 CBRS sites.^[3]

3. May 4, 2023

   DFW announces a partnership with AT&T that includes a private 5G network for internal use, with upgrades to begin that summer.^[2]

4. Nov 18, 2022

   Bids are due for DFW's comprehensive wireless platform covering Wi-Fi and private cellular.^[4]

5. 2021

   DFW commissions two CBRS trials: Betacom at American Airlines gate A9 for baggage sorting, and Samsung with Harman for cargo tracking.^[4]