A new report from the Wireless Infrastructure
Associa on (WIA) trade group highlights growing
interest in cell tower coloca ons – where operators
share space on the same structure – among the big
US wireless network operators. And it underscores the
sector's rela ve disinterest in small cells.
"During the 2020 pandemic, as people started working
from home and entertainment was curtailed, the
demand for cellular capacity shi ed from dense
urban areas to the suburbs," according to the WIA
report, which was authored by analyst firm iGR. "As
such, the mobile industry had less need for small
cells and indoor solu ons in downtown areas and
increased demand for capacity on suburban towers.
This trend persists today and outdoor small-cell
deployments have yet to achieve their expected pace
of deployment."
WIA is the lobbying associa on for cell tower operators
and other wireless infrastructure companies. The
group's annual Connect (X) trade show starts Monday.
According to the WIA's report, there were a total of
197,850 outdoor small cells in opera on in the US
at the end of 2024. That's down from the 202,100
outdoor small cells the associa on counted in its
report last year.
The figures are noteworthy considering that, at one
point, wireless industry analysts expected 800,000
small cells in the US by 2026.
The disinterest in small cells is clear in recent market
transac ons. Crown Castle recently sold its small cell
business to the EQT Ac ve Core Infrastructure fund for
just $4.25 billion, far less than early es mates.
The FCC defines small cells as wireless infrastructure
installa ons under 50 feet in height. Standard cell
towers are typically much bigger and cover much wider
geographic areas.
Despite shrinking in the US small cell market, the WIA
maintains that the sector will grow in the future. "The
market has yet to recover, although increases are
expected in the coming years as the industry moves to
densify 5G networks," the report explained.
5G small cells are
out, colocations are
in – report
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