Categories: Uncategorized

Q1 2022 State of the Industry Update from Ken

For anyone hoping that 2022 would slow down from 2021, that will not happen. We enjoyed a slight lull in activity in January, only to be slammed in February and March. What’s occupying us these days?


  1. AT&T C-Band Modifications. AT&T is adding C-Band equipment to their existing macrocells to provide mid-band (faster) 5G. Because they are adding antennas for C-Band, most of these modifications justify increasing rent for the landowner/tower owner.   AT&T must have had many of these ready to go – because our clients were quickly inundated with requests. If you own a rooftop where AT&T (or Verizon) is proposing C-Band, ask them for the MPE study (maximum permitted exposure). Not because we believe there is a risk to you or the residents- but because C-Band has higher authorized power. As a result, you may find areas of the roof that you can no longer use without asking AT&T to power down their equipment. Also, AT&T or Verizon may want to add barriers on the roof to keep people out of those areas.
  2. DISH New Leases. DISH seems to be getting its act together in terms of site acquisition. Our clients have negotiated to finalize some DISH leases for 6-12 months. There must have been a push recently to get the leases signed, as we have seen some real progress on finalizing some of those leases. Interestingly, DISH appears to have prioritized which sites they will construct and when- as the forecasted construction date on some has been accelerated and others pushed out 1-3 years.
  3. Sprint Terminations. The terminations notices are finally coming. For those of you wondering when and if Sprint will terminate their lease with you due to the merger with T-Mobile, you should find out in the next few months. It won’t take long after that for Sprint to remove their equipment. If you receive a request from Sprint to “keep” the equipment in exchange for a one-time payment, generally, we recommend against keeping anything other than the concrete pad. The antennas and equipment have little value, and other providers won’t use them.
  4. New Macrocell Builds for AT&T and Verizon. While it seems to be a bit muted from last year, our landowners have received requests to lease their property from AT&T, Verizon, or smaller build-to-suit tower companies on their behalf. It seems obvious that some of these sites are being added due to the lesser effective distance of mid-band 5G spectrum. Some appear to be targeted towards fixed wireless- i.e., 5G broadband to the home.   The result is that towers and macrocells are being built between sites, especially in suburban areas.
  5. Eye-Popping Offers for Lease Buyouts and Tower Sales. In the category of “we need to stop forecasting the market’s peak, ” we continue to be surprised by the multiples being paid for tower assets and leases. Every time I think that offers cannot go higher- we are proven incorrect. If you have received buyout offers lately, I suspect you have observed how crazy the market is getting. It seems like a bubble to me – but I have talked to some investors who think this is just the new normal. Whatever the case, if you are considering selling your lease or tower- definitely time to get multiple offers. The old adage “you don’t know what you don’t know” applies here- because even we don’t know how high offers will come back until we get them.

If you wonder how all of the above applies to you or what to do about your existing leases, please contact us. (As a reminder, we cannot help you find new leases for your land or building, so please don’t email us how great your property is).  

Related posts:

  1. The Fate of Clearwire’s Existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) Network Clearwire LTE Plans
  2. Most Influential Events in 2014
  3. Update on 2022 in Wireless- analysis and expectations.
  4. STEEL IN THE AIR’S 2023 PREDICTIONS FOR CELL TOWER LEASING AND VALUATION
Admin

View Comments

  • I have 2 cell sites on my property , initially they were Uscellular and Att , 2 different sites, on same property , I sold the leases in 2012 for $250,000 , but was contracted for additional revenue if additional towers on sites or tenants on towers , there are either so far … Was wondering how to get my acreage which is 9.2 acres marketed for 5g or expanding dish tv , it’s located at 7377 Hwy BB Union Missouri, 63084. Thanks Timothy Kellermann, Owner

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Admin
Tags: Newsletter
4 years ago

Recent Posts

T-Mobile Wants to Triple the Size of Your Rooftop Cell Site — Should You Let Them?

Case Study: T-Mobile Wants to Triple Your Rooftop Cell Site — Should You Let Them?…

2 weeks ago

Are Top Cell Tower Lease Consultant Awards Real?

Short answer: almost never. Longer answer below, because if you're a landowner trying to figure…

3 weeks ago

SITA’s Good and Bad for 2025

Good and Bad for 2025Rather than the usual brag-fest, here's what actually happened in 2025—the…

2 months ago

Between a DAS and a Hard Place: Chilmark’s Difficult Legal Reality

The current situation on Martha’s Vineyard is a textbook example of what happens when an…

5 months ago

DISH Wireless Lease Excuse Letter

In October 2025, Steel in the Air obtained a letter sent by DISH Wireless LLC…

6 months ago

Edge Data Centers at Tower Sites: The High Bar and the Real Opportunity

Over the last decade, we’ve heard plenty of talk about how cell tower sites would…

9 months ago

our footprints

ABOUT US

What We Do

ADVANTAGES