Verizon Business is tapping into its private 5G efforts and a partnership with Extreme Networks to drive localized network deployments into stadium and venues across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

The work will be done through Verizon’s audaciously named International Stadium and Venue Practice. The venture will provide WiFi-powered systems to event venues tapping into Verizon Business’ experience with the infrastructure deployment and management of private 5G and LTE deployments and Extreme Networks' WiFi and analytics services.

John Brams, VP of major accounts at Extreme Networks, explained that the partnership is looking to fill in coverage gaps that remain in these international facilities.

“We're extending our partnership with a focus not only in the U.S. markets, but across EMEA and APAC to provide this sort of end-to-end extension and fan experience, providing connectivity in the case of Verizon, potentially private LTE solutions as part of that because there's a huge opportunity for both of us to break into this market,” Brams said.

Extreme is leading on an initial deployment, tapping Verizon Business to help it deploy a WiFi system for Manchester United at Old Trafford Stadium. This will have Verizon providing backend cabling, construction, professional services, and management systems, and Extreme providing the analytics system running on top of that deployment.

The announcements also hint at Verizon Business providing its “private 5G capabilities” to this effort, which adds another potential wrinkle.

Private 5G networks are still in their early days, but most concepts are tapping into licensed spectrum holdings that can provide an organization with more robust quality of service and management over a specific network compared to a WiFi network using unlicensed spectrum. However, each country has its own spectrum licensing rules that typically put licensed spectrum in the hands of that country’s local telecom providers. This would seem to limit Verizon Business from being able to offer a private 5G network using cellular spectrum.

Some countries are working toward freeing up shared licensed spectrum holdings that could provide an opportunity for an international company to offer a private 5G service outside of its traditional borders. In the U.S. for instance, the FCC has opened up the so-called Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum for use by enterprises on a limited geographical basis.

Verizon Business did not respond by press time to provide more details on its international private 5G network plans.

Brams was very clear that he did not have any insight into Verizon Business’ plans, but offered up that it could work in such a situation if it partnered with a local carrier that did control licensed spectrum in the area.

“Verizon might be providing some of the technology, but I think ultimately they may be working with potentially other, or in coordination with potentially other, carriers as part of that,” Brams said.

As for Extreme, Brams said the company has agreements with international partners, but that the Verizon Business deal provides it with tight, lab-tested integration that can used to target other market segments around the world.

“Although the messaging … was very focused on what we do in the venue, and the stadium, large public venue spaces, the broader Verizon-Extreme relationship is really important to both of us going forward,” Brams said.