Access to real estate for telecommunications infrastructure development is essential to secure the social and economic benefits that broadband communications provides for communities. Now, more than ever, this development is crucial for enhanced healthcare and educational opportunities, as well as for job creation and economic growth. Bridging the gap between landowners and telecommunications providers can maximize benefits to both parties and accelerate deployment, helping to close the digital divide experienced by many communities.
Infrastructure Development
Telecommunications infrastructure comes in many forms. Deploying robust networks now requires more than just traditional large-scale “macro” cellular towers. Wireless communications also requires a backbone of fiber optic cables, as well as small wireless facilities or “small cell” nodes. Small cell nodes are typically interspersed between macro sites to provide additional capacity in areas with higher population density. Often they are placed on macro towers or existing structures such as traffic lights, streetlights, utility poles and rooftops. The small cell and towers communications sites are connected back to local data centers by a fiber optic network buried underground or attached to existing utility poles. All of this infrastructure requires access to real estate for each of the critical components and the exponential growth in data usage requires the communications providers to make massive investments to rapidly expand the coverage and capacity of their networks.
Real Estate Development
To encourage development of this critical infrastructure and to maximize the benefits recognized by landowners and community members requires deep industry knowledge. This begins with understanding the value of real estate, whether it is a portfolio of properties, vertical infrastructure, a single parcel of land or a building, or a municipal right-of-way. The value of the real estate will be driven by demand, which can be leveraged by understanding the current needs of the network providers, having contacts within those providers, and understanding the development potential for each location. Evaluating the development potential also requires an understanding of smart growth strategies that allow communities meet their connectivity goals and ensure economic development opportunities while still maintaining their distinctive character
Cell Site Capital can bridge the gap between landowners, network providers and communities by negotiating deals that maximize revenue potential and utilization of each property, and ensure smart, community-centric growth.
