Campus Networks: From Idea to Impact (Part 2)
Connectivity is the new cloud. Ten years ago, the cloud wasn’t about servers; it was about packaging infrastructure into a service customers could actually consume. Private 5G and campus networks are at the same inflection point. Part 1 showed how giants like SailGP, Newmont, and Aker BP proved the technology in extreme conditions, on racing seas, in deep mines, and across offshore rigs. But for startups, the question isn’t whether private networks work. The question is how to turn them into something customers will pay for, month after month.
That’s what this post delivers: a Monetization Blueprint for private wireless with three practical models, backed by real-world startup examples, that show how to transform connectivity from an engineering achievement into a sustainable business.
Networks-as-Easy-as-Netflix: The NaaS Model
Not every customer wants to buy and operate a private network outright. For many, the appeal lies in consuming connectivity like a service, in the same way companies shifted from owning servers to renting cloud capacity. That’s the logic of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS): predictable costs, simplified management, and scalability on demand.
This is where Firecell comes in.
Founded in 2021 in Nice, France, Firecell builds open source 5G private network software packaged with pre-integrated hardware kits, SIM cards, and cloud orchestration tools. Their mission is simple: make private 5G “as simple as Wi-Fi.” With its subscription-first design, Firecell makes private 5G feel more like NaaS than a telco contract.
Instead of demanding heavy upfront purchases, Firecell flips the script with a subscription-based model. The infrastructure itself is financed by Firecell and its partners, so customers don’t pay for the antennas and base stations. They simply cover a starter fee of €450 per 1,000 m² for installation and then a subscription of €99 per 1,000 m² per month. That subscription includes connectivity, technical support, and access to Firecell’s monitoring software.
At the heart of this model is Pegasus 5G, Firecell’s turnkey “network in a box.” Pegasus bundles Firecell’s open-source 5G core and RAN software with pre-integrated small cells, SIM management, and cloud or on-prem orchestration. The goal is simple: make private 5G as easy to deploy as Wi-Fi, whether in a factory, logistics hub, or research lab. By building on open-source components, Firecell keeps costs low and reduces vendor lock-in, positioning itself as an affordable challenger to legacy telecom suppliers.
In March 2024, Firecell completed a €6.6 million seed round led by Ventech and Matterwave Ventures, with support from Bpifrance and Bouygues Telecom Initiatives, giving the company fresh capital to accelerate product innovation and scale its private 5G offering internationally.
Takeaway for founders: Firecell shows how startups can win by removing barriers to entry. Don’t sell private networks as one-off engineering projects; package them as a consumable service with transparent pricing, low upfront cost, and the flexibility to scale as customers grow, a logic also reflected in Celona’s enterprise deployments and Neutroon’s pay-as-you-go orchestration model, both aimed at removing barriers to private 5G adoption.
Connectivity lays the foundation, VAS builds the house
Selling connectivity alone is a tough business. The real margins come when you layer services on top of the network, such as monitoring, analytics or automation. This is the Value-Added Services (VAS) play: turning private 5G from raw bandwidth into business outcomes.
Think of it like cloud computing: nobody pays AWS just for servers. They pay for databases, AI tools, and analytics stacked on top. In the same way, private wireless becomes far more valuable when it comes bundled with insights, automation, or customer-facing services.
That’s the niche BubbleRAN is carving out. Based in France, the company focuses on the intelligence layer rather than the radios, developing orchestration and automation platforms that make private 5G easier to deploy, scale, and trust. Its portfolio ranges from R&D kits to turnkey private 5G systems, but the standout is MX-AI, a multi-domain automation platform that adds a new layer of control on top of connectivity.
MX-AI is designed to transform private networks from static infrastructure into dynamic, self-optimizing systems. It combines orchestration, real-time monitoring, and AI-driven automation into a single platform, so enterprises can not only deploy a network but also actively manage and tune it. For enterprises, that means a network that adapts to their needs instead of locking them into a rigid configuration.
Instead of selling bandwidth, BubbleRAN sells the intelligence that lets enterprises extract value from it, including automation, security, and measurable performance that turn connectivity into outcomes.
Takeaway for founders: BubbleRAN shows that some of the most practical opportunities sit above the network itself. And it’s not alone – Net AI and LatenceTech are part of a new wave of startups turning private 5G into value-added services rather than just bandwidth. Don’t stop at delivering connectivity. Layer it with solutions like automation or analytics that turn private 5G into a tool customers can actually use and trust.
From Connectivity to Coverage: Adding Value on Top of Vertical Use Cases
Selling a network as a blank canvas is tough but selling it as a ready-to-go solution for a sector is far easier. That’s the Vertical Solutions model: instead of pitching generic private 5G, you bundle it directly into workflows for industries such as broadcasting, logistics, or healthcare.
Neutral Wireless in Scotland is a strong example. The company develops portable, broadcast-ready private 5G networks that have already been deployed at major events, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games and live broadcast trials at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In those trials, the system carried ultra-low-latency video streams from stadiums to production hubs.
This model works because it meets broadcasting’s unique demands. Consumer networks are built for downloads and often choke in crowded venues, but broadcasters need reliable uplink for multiple video streams. Neutral Wireless fills that gap with a dedicated 5G spectrum that delivers predictable performance for cameras, microphones, and telemetry on a single IP-switched network.
Technically, their system integrates directly into the production workflow. Video streams carried over the private 5G network break out at an on-site user plane server, connect to standard video decoders, and flow back into existing broadcast infrastructure just like wired cameras. The 5G transmitters are small and lightweight, making them easy to mount on racing cars, motorbikes, or even drones overhead. And because the network supports two-way communication, it isn’t just for video. Crews can use it for their own comms while also enabling low-latency telemetry data and live broadcast overlays.
This isn’t connectivity for connectivity’s sake; it’s 5G pre-packaged as a vertical service for media and live events. Broadcasters don’t need to think about radios or the spectrum. They get a kit that solves a clear problem: moving the video reliably, without wires, in crowded venues.
Takeaway for founders: Neutral Wireless shows the power of vertical focus. Don’t sell a generic network; sell a solution tailored to a sector’s pain point. Whether it’s media, mining, or medicine, the startup’s edge lies in packaging private 5G into outcomes that customers recognize instantly.
Neutral Wireless shows the power of vertical focus. Don’t sell a generic network; sell a solution tailored to a sector’s pain point. Whether it’s media, mining, or medicine, the startup’s edge lies in packaging private 5G into outcomes that customers recognize instantly. More startups in this business model include BlueSim, delivering private 5G for maritime connectivity, and Infravista, offering an operational platform that gives telcos real-time visibility into their cell-site infrastructure and helps optimize OPEX costs.
Choosing Your Play
Private 5G and campus networks aren’t a one-size-fits-all business. Some startups will win by lowering barriers with subscription models, others by enabling shared access, and others by layering intelligence or targeting a single vertical. The real play is to choose the model that fits your market and your strengths and then execute it relentlessly. The technology is ready, and the demand is real. The next move is yours.