Enhancing Connectivity on Base: Tower Solutions for the U.S. Military  

Military bases are vast communities with housing, hospitals, restaurants, retail stores, offices and classrooms all working together to support the daily life of troops and their families. This intricate blend of facilities highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in maintaining a connected and functional environment. Connectivity on base isn’t just about convenience—it’s mission-critical. Building wireless networks here means understanding strict security protocols, managing complex contracts and ensuring seamless coverage for everything from emergency systems to a family video call. That’s where Boingo comes in.  

As a leader in providing wireless connectivity for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and federal government, connecting more than 100 U.S. military bases worldwide, Boingo knows what it takes to design, build and manage cutting-edge cellular and Wi-Fi networks.  Within Boingo’s network infrastructure portfolio is robust communication towers, which serve as a backbone for reliable and secure connectivity across military installations. To better understand tower connectivity on military bases, let’s review key factors and best practices for deployment.  

Deploying 5G cellular towers that meet military requirements & standards  

To successfully build cellular towers on military installations, there are three key factors to consider: 

1. Security compliance: stringent requirements govern every aspect of construction, from site selection to ongoing maintenance. It’s important for partners to work closely with military leaders and the local community to ensure compliance at every stage. 
2. Site planning: military bases often have unique geographic or operational constraints. Selecting the right location for optimal coverage, while building alongside ongoing base operations is crucial. 
3. Environmental impact: tower builds must consider environmental regulations and aesthetics to minimize disruption to the surrounding communities, this includes preserving natural habitats and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal environmental guidelines. 

Boingo brings a streamlined approach to these challenges, leveraging its expertise to deliver turnkey solutions that plan for security, efficiency and performance. 

Boingo’s guide to towers 

With the military requirements and standards considered, building tower infrastructure for cellular connectivity demands a strategic approach to deftly navigate approvals and secure participation from multiple carriers. Boingo simplifies this process with a proven, end-to-end model that delivers secure, efficient, and scalable connectivity—empowering military bases to meet mission-critical demands while enhancing the daily lives of troops and their families. 

• Understand the mission: define cellular coverage objectives and collaborate with key stakeholders to align goals. 
• Choose the right location: conduct thorough surveys to select optimal sites for maximum coverage and minimal impact. 
• Secure approvals: work closely with decision-makers to navigate compliance and obtain necessary permissions. Boingo leverages its DoD contracting vehicles—such as the GSA Schedule and its AAFES partnership—to help simplify the base approval process and reduce network deployment cycle time from years to months.  
• Multi-carrier solutions: deploy infrastructure that allows for multi-carrier cellular coverage, with participation from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Dish/Boost.
• Integrate zero trust security: ensure the infrastructure meets federal-grade security standards, safeguarding private data. 

Beyond towers, Boingo also offers cellular Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) for military bases. With a network of strategically placed antennas, DAS improves cellular connectivity in areas where traditional outdoor tower coverage may not reach. Boingo DAS networks are ideal for on-base facilities, such as hospitals, classrooms, commissaries and recreation centers.  

Driving connectivity for military installations  

With nearly 25 years of wireless experience, Boingo’s approach brings seamless and secure cellular service to your base, helping military installations navigate complex logistics and deliver cutting-edge connectivity. 

To learn more about Boingo’s tower solutions, visit boingo.com/towers or email sales@boingo.com.