Tower company executives at Connect(X) projected a constructive outlook for the US tower market, citing expected spectrum activity for 6G, rising AI workloads, and the continued build-out of edge infrastructure. Their comments came alongside acknowledgement of near-term market disruption tied to Dish Wireless’ defaults on tower payments.
Rather than treating satellite as a substitute, the panelists framed it as a complement to terrestrial connectivity, while discussing how tower assets can support both AI and fixed wireless access (FWA) deployment.
Spectrum clearance expected to unlock more capacity
The discussion centered on how the FCC’s spectrum planning could translate into additional network densification and site growth for tower owners. Executives said they are monitoring the agency’s efforts to open swaths of spectrum for 6G, including an 800MHz opening in the coming years and a planned auction of at least 100MHz of upper C-band spectrum next year.
Diamond Communications CEO Ed Farscht linked the next “killer app” for 6G to AI, arguing that AI requires spectrum. He also suggested that as focus shifts to upper spectrum bands, densification and more infrastructure would be required, which could result in a significant number of additional sites during rollout.
SBA Communications CEO Brendan Cavanagh also pointed to the FCC’s evaluation of spectrum in higher bands as a driver for tower growth.
AI workload placement pushes distributed edge compute
Panelists connected AI demand directly to compute placement and latency constraints. Richard Rossi, EVP and president of American Tower’s U.S. Tower division, said that increased data demands coupled with latency demands for AI would require processing closer to the user. In his view, that shift would mean distributed compute and, consequently, more smaller edge facilities.
American Tower’s own deployment plans were used to ground the expectation: Rossi said the company has deployed its first edge data center in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is now working on expansion. He described the operator’s rationale as a practical response to where AI processing needs to occur.
Vertical Bridge CEO Ron Bizick added that demand for facilities near fiber could create opportunities for small, bulk real estate where edge capacity can be installed. He also said the company’s role as a tower owner could position it as a benefactor if a tower is already nearby to support that edge build-out.
Tower assets expected to speed edge rollout
The panelists also framed towers as an infrastructure enabler for edge deployment. Chris Hillabrant, president and CEO of Crown Castle, said tower companies can act as a fast solution for initial edge deployment. He described the rollout as staged, and noted that Crown Castle is having conversations with edge stakeholders while conducting an active trial.
Rossi and other executives argued that the practical requirements for edge facilities—space, power and backhaul—are areas where tower companies can contribute. The panel indicated there has already been some outreach to tower companies, driven by constraints on how quickly data centers can be built to meet desired pacing.
FWA viewed as densification catalyst for towers
Beyond spectrum and AI, fixed wireless access was presented as another ongoing driver of tower business expansion. SBA Communications CEO Brendan Cavanagh said FWA pushes average data usage upward beyond traditional mobile usage, which in turn strains networks. He argued that supporting that demand requires more equipment at sites, denser deployments, and additional sites in “fill-in” locations that might not be built under earlier coverage patterns.
He further characterized FWA as a contributor “going forward” as operators move beyond the use of “fallow spectrum” and build specifically for fixed wireless.
Satellite positioned as complement, not replacement
When asked about satellite broadband and direct-to-device (D2D) services, the tower executives aligned on a common assessment: satellite is a complement to terrestrial networks rather than a direct threat to the tower business. The panelists described satellite’s role as supportive, including for how it might coexist with the terrestrial networks that towers serve.
Rossi said American Tower has gained visibility into the satellite business through its investment in AST SpaceMobile, including a board seat. He said this gave the company “look under the hood” on the interplay between satellite and terrestrial networks, and that after a couple of years its initial view has been validated—that satellite will remain a complement and “a really strong complement.”
For connectivity stakeholders, the key takeaway from the Light Reading discussion is that tower strategy is being shaped by regulatory spectrum planning, AI-driven edge compute needs, and FWA densification, with satellite treated as an additional connectivity layer rather than a substitute—an editorial framing that was also explicit in the comments shared on panel at the event. Source: Light Reading.