Jan 14, 2026 2025 in Review, 2026 in Focus: What Industry Leaders See AheadBy Kristen Beckman To take stock of a year of rapid change and look ahead to what’s coming next, we polled experts across our member companies on the most significant developments of 2025 and the trends they expect to shape 2026. Their perspectives converge around a few clear themes: AI moving from promise to production, spectrum and policy shifts unlocking new momentum, and a growing emphasis on efficiency, automation, and ROI across networks, sites, and buildings. From private 5G and in-building connectivity to power intelligence, densification, and smarter infrastructure design, the insights that follow reveal an industry recalibrating for scale, resilience, and performance. Read on for a candid, forward-looking view of where wireless has been — and where it’s headed next. Iain GillottVice President, Innovation & Technology, WIA The most significant development in 2025: For the past few years, the wireless industry as a whole has been lamenting the fact there was no new spectrum available and that the FCC did not have spectrum authority. Spectrum is the lifeblood of the wireless infrastructure industry — new spectrum usually means new network equipment to deploy. Both of these issues were addressed in 2025, although in separate events. The FCC was granted its spectrum auction authority in the OBBBA, so that when new spectrum bands are identified and approved, the FCC can move forward with auctions. The second major event came in late August with the announcement that AT&T was buying $23 billion worth of lower- and mid-band spectrum from Echostar — this transaction puts spectrum to work relatively quickly. And then in September, Echostar and SpaceX announced a $19 billion deal for SpaceX to acquire Echostar’s AWS-4, H-block and AWS-3 licenses — this will eventually be used by Starlink to provide Direct-to-Cell service. These deals free up spectrum that was previously not being optimized. The AT&T deal especially will put more spectrum to work — that is what the industry wants and needs. Spectrum that sits on the sidelines and remains dormant does not help the infrastructure industry or the consumer or business user. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: For 2026, I am going to go with the most obvious trend, the one the majority of people will be discussing (if they are not already): Artificial Intelligence. Rather than the usual debate about the good and bad associated with use of AI or the overall impact on society, I think 2026 will see more definition around where AI can really be effective and where it cannot. In other words, we will see the AI hype separated from the AI reality. For wireless infrastructure, I think we will see the biggest impact in two areas: digital twins and data collection; and edge computing. For digital twins, the focus is on the collection of quality data about a specific tower or wireless installation — this includes drone footage, high-definition images, technical specifications of deployed infrastructure, the physical condition and limitations of the tower, etc. For AI to be effective in the analysis of a specific tower and RAN deployment, the data used for the analysis must be accurate, definitive, and detailed. To paraphrase, good data in results in good data out. I believe that 2026 will see advancements in this area and commercial examples of the true benefits of AI. Edge compute has been discussed for many years in various capacities. For AI, the big debate in 2026 will be the split in work load between the device, the edge and the cloud — where will the heavy lifting actually take place? This debate has started but will become more pronounced in 2026 and that will result in more definition as to where the edge is, what the edge will process and how it will be architected. For the wireless infrastructure industry, this will be key as the industry starts to understand exactly where the edge compute will be located and what it will look like. Rich RossiExecutive Vice President and President, U.S. Tower Division, American Tower WIA Board Vice Chair The most significant development in 2025: 2025 marked a major milestone as carriers entered the second half of 5G deployment. The focus shifted from broad coverage to service quality and capacity, laying the foundation for next-generation connectivity and 6G readiness, which will require ultra-dense networks to support massive data growth and advanced applications. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: AI isn’t just influencing wireless — it’s redefining it. In 2026, AI-powered services — such as real-time translation, generative AI for mobile devices, and analytics — will drive unprecedented data consumption, fueling demand for towers, data centers, and cloud infrastructure, with the edge evolving as the critical intersection. Deployments of new spectrum will unlock carrier investment for higher speeds and lower latency, while network densification will remain essential to meet growing traffic and prepare for 6G. Overall, 2026 will be defined by densification and spectrum expansion, as AI-driven services fuel ever-growing demand for mobile data. Zain AdmaniCo-Founder and VP of Engineering, Inorsa WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The most significant development in 2025: For decades, telecom has had a fundamental data problem. The industry’s most valuable asset information lived in fragmented, unstructured files like drawings, reports, and leases, while systems of record were incomplete and maintained manually in ways that had not meaningfully changed in years. This made accurate, timely decision-making slow, expensive, and often dependent on scarce experts. In 2025, AI finally provided a way out by making large-scale data extraction, validation, and multi-step reasoning practical across entire portfolios. What once took weeks of expert effort, or was done imperfectly because the data was too hard to gather, can now be done quickly and consistently. While still in its deployment stage, the result is a shift in perspective from passive, archival data to active, operational value, where teams can ask questions of their assets and get answers in near real time instead of months later. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, the biggest trend will be the shift from insight-driven tools to execution-driven systems across telecom operations. Over the past few years, the industry has focused on better visibility into data, but visibility alone does not fix long timelines or overloaded teams. The next phase is automating end-to-end workflows that connect data, rules, and actions across systems, reducing manual handoffs and dependency on scarce experts. Advances in automation, orchestration, and rule-based decisioning, supported by AI-powered intelligent agents where appropriate, will allow work to move continuously instead of in stop-and-go cycles. As investment accelerates in data centers and power distribution infrastructure, this kind of execution-level automation will be critical to keeping pace with demand across the broader infrastructure ecosystem. Adrian BerezowskyVice President, Dynamic Environmental Associates WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The biggest trends impacting the industry in 2025 and 2026: 2025 saw many environmental and regulatory challenges affecting wireless infrastructure deployment, and 2026 will undoubtedly bring additional uncertainty. That said, there is hope that portions of the regulatory landscape may begin to ease as the year progresses. The FAA faced significant setbacks throughout 2025, beginning early in the year with widespread staffing cutbacks followed shortly thereafter by a premature decision to upgrade its website, including the portal used for filings and historical searches. Over eight months later, the new system continues to experience operational issues. As a result, FAA staff inevitably fell behind, a situation that was further exacerbated by the government shutdown. While the agency continues to work diligently through these challenges, 2026 is expected to bring incremental improvements to both the platform and review timelines, which would be a welcome development for the industry. Network densification also continued to pose RF-related regulatory and design challenges in 2025, particularly in dense urban environments. Existing facilities and numerous uncontrolled neighboring properties often make it difficult to avoid RF impacts while still meeting coverage objectives. This constraint has increasingly affected not only the deployment of new sites but also modifications to existing ones. Looking ahead, 2026 may see greater intercarrier cooperation around RF impacts, enabling more efficient deployment and modification of facilities in these complex settings. Finally, the FCC advanced several significant proposed rulemakings in 2025, most notably those related to broad reform of the agency’s NEPA regulations. While no changes took effect during the year, the resulting regulatory climate has remained uncertain as stakeholders await clarity. 2026 is expected to bring final action by the FCC, though litigation may delay or complicate implementation. Should reforms ultimately take effect, their reception and application by the industry, states and local jurisdictions remain open questions. Regulatory and environmental considerations will almost certainly remain among the most impactful and closely watched issues facing the wireless infrastructure industry in 2026. Joshua BroderCEO, Verta Wireless The most significant development in 2025: The most significant development in 2025 was T-Mobile’s completion of the UScellular acquisition, alongside growing clarity that DISH would not compete as a facilities-based carrier, including related spectrum sales. Together, these developments effectively cemented the three-carrier, facilities-based competitive model in the U.S. This consolidation further concentrated spectrum holdings at a level that still preserves meaningful choice for consumers and Mobile Virtual Network Operators, while solidifying three national networks with the scale and assets required to compete aggressively. Importantly, this market crystallization has not reduced competition — it has intensified it. Competition among the Big Three (and their MVNO partners) is exceptionally strong across retail pricing and offerings, spectrum deployment, network coverage and capacity, and overall network performance. The result is a highly competitive environment heading into 2026, which is very good news for wireless infrastructure providers, as carriers continue to push hard on network quality, coverage, and efficiency. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: While this competitive setup should continue to drive demand for new sites and additional lease-up in 2026, the three facilities-based carriers are under increasing pressure to deploy networks more efficiently, with greater long-term focus on the sustainability of their structural costs. At Verta, we see several trends accelerating as a result: Lower-cost site typologies will increasingly win. New sites — whether for added density between existing cells or for new coverage — will gravitate toward the least expensive practical solutions, including larger small wireless facilities in the public right-of-way and more modestly scoped macro sites on private property. Carriers will continue to exit “bad sites.” This includes macro sites with unsustainable rent escalation, sites on transmission structures, and operationally challenging rooftops that no longer make economic sense. Small-cell deployment will remain steady but disciplined. We expect continued, modest small-cell growth focused on targeted densification and coverage needs rather than broad, speculative builds. In-building economics will continue to shift. Carriers are increasingly reluctant to fund in-building systems, placing greater responsibility on building owners to treat connectivity as an amenity, while carriers focus on serving buildings from outdoor networks where possible. Together, these trends point to a 2026 market that rewards cost-efficient, flexible, and well-located infrastructure, and favors providers who can deliver the right site, in the right place, with community support, at the right cost. Suzanne CorboVP Marketing and Partner Engagement, Nextivity Inc. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: We are starting to see companies measuring/calculating the ROI for in-building connectivity and think this trend will continue. WiredScore’s October Newsletter contains this blurb: Cushman and Wakefield’s Smart Premium report shows a 4.1% rental uplift for WiredScore-certified offices, rising to 7.3% with SmartScore. The WiredScore is an indicator of connectivity, while the other also includes Smart Building controls. This one statistic is evidence of tenants willing to pay a premium to be in a smart, connected building; property managers calculating the value of connectivity — moving it out of the “nice to have category” into a business driver; and the value of connectivity being established, indicating a 5% – 10% premium is possible. Sanjay DhawanVice President of New Business Technology and Operations, SBA Conmmunications WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The most significant development in 2025: During 2025, the most significant development for the US Wireless Industry was the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3). The rapid adoption of AI, Fixed Wireless Access and other use cases enabled by 5G advanced are resulting in increased data usage and in turn placing heavy demands on today’s networks. Capacity adds via a combination of new spectrum and advanced wireless technologies are the fastest and most efficient way to serve this continued network demand. OB3 is instrumental in re-instating the FCC’s spectrum auction authority for an additional 10 years, as well as setting a clear path for clearing and auction of 800 megahertz of federal plus non-federal spectrum, of which at least 100 megahertz of upper C-band is expected to be auctioned by 2027. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: The adoption of AI has been visible in terms of exponential uptake of smartphone applications, smart devices such as Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, robots and several other emerging applications. AI uptake implies a change in wireless traffic behaviors, including a higher share of uplink data, and in turn resulting in the introduction of uplink optimized hardware such as FDD M-MIMO radios within wireless networks. With the continued uptick in data from AI and other applications and 5G upgrades being largely completed in urban areas, coupled with limited additional spectrum availability, during 2026, we could expect a greater move to capacity-based cell splits in high traffic areas. This, in turn, could mean an increase in capacity-based new colocations on towers from major US carriers vs. the past two to three years. We can also expect to see coverage expansions in new and high-growth urban/suburban development areas across the country, e.g., Katy, Texas, also implying new colocations on wireless towers. Brian EnsignVice President Sales, Americas, Nextivity Inc. WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: For 2026 (and beyond), the demand for private 5G will continue to grow and gain traction for a more comprehensive connectivity strategy for the deployment of Industry 4.0 and Smart Buildings IoT applications. Laura HalpennyCEO, Autobahn Towers LLC The most significant development in 2025: From an infrastructure developer’s perspective, 2025 marked the decisive shift away from macro-tower growth in the suburban/urban environment toward location-driven, fiber-dense, small-cell networks. While carriers slowed new tower builds in these areas and redirected capital to urban and suburban densification, they increased rural deployments of new tower builds to meet FCC coverage requirements and to provide 5G coverage to underserved areas. In the suburban/urban environments, carriers prioritized developers who could rapidly deliver permitted nodes with reliable power, fiber adjacency, and municipal approvals. Control of entitlements, utility relationships, and real-estate access became more valuable than tower height or land ownership, while neutral-host and shared infrastructure models moved from optional to essential. As a result, wireless development evolved into fiber-enabled real-estate development, favoring developers who could think in scalable networks and portfolios rather than individual sites — reshaping revenue models, accelerating time to cash flow, and redefining long-term asset value. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, the wireless infrastructure landscape will reward WOSB infrastructure firms that position themselves as trusted operators of location-based, performance-driven networks rather than traditional site developers. While there will still be macro-tower development in rural areas, the market is shifting away from macro-tower expansion toward neutral-host, fiber-adjacent small-cell platforms embedded in municipal rights-of-way, transit corridors, campuses, and mixed-use developments — areas where procurement requirements, compliance, and local trust matter most. WOSB firms are uniquely advantaged in this environment, as municipalities, carriers, and infrastructure investors increasingly prioritize certified partners who can deliver speed, entitlement certainty, and shared-use infrastructure. Ultimately, WOSB developers that control the right locations and relationships — while monetizing performance, not just rent — will capture outsized value in the next phase of wireless infrastructure growth. Joe KessingerCEO, HCI Energy The most significant development in 2025: In 2025, what stood out most to us at HCI Energy was how quickly mobile networks expanded, and how often power became the factor that limited network expansion, performance, and reliability. We saw operators under pressure to deploy faster, add equipment to existing locations, and maintain continuous service through outages, while relying on power systems that offered little visibility into how they were actually performing. Customers increasingly needed power solutions that could be deployed quickly, deliver uninterrupted power, and provide real insight into site conditions. The biggest shift was the growing realization that power intelligence, not just redundancy, is essential to keeping modern wireless networks running without disruption. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: Looking ahead to 2026, we believe the most impactful trend will be operators demanding greater intelligence, control, and scalability from their power infrastructure as networks continue to grow. Mobile network and tower operators are managing larger site portfolios while facing higher uptime expectations and tighter operational constraints. We are seeing strong demand for power systems that provide continuous primary and backup power, real-time visibility into site performance, and the ability to expand capacity over time without interruption. Power infrastructure that combines resilience with insight will be critical to sustaining network performance at scale. At the same time, we expect 2026 to mark a broader shift in how the industry thinks about power, from a static component to an intelligent system that actively supports network operations. Operators are increasingly looking for platforms that turn power data into actionable insight, enabling better decisions, fewer surprises, and more predictable performance across their networks. This evolution toward power intelligence will shape the next generation of wireless infrastructure and redefine how reliability, efficiency, and readiness are measured. Dan LakeyChief Revenue Officer, Fortress Solutions The most significant development in 2025: The most significant 2025 development was the shift from exploratory private 5G pilots to early-stage production deployments across industrial environments. Throughout 2025, organizations began realizing that Wi-Fi alone could not support the mobility, reliability, and segmentation required by emerging workloads such as AGVs, AMRs, drones, and real-time video analytics. As automation and AI systems expanded in warehouses, factories, utilities, and logistics networks, enterprises began choosing private 5G for deterministic mobility that eliminates Wi-Fi’s roaming gaps, consistent low-latency performance for mission-critical robotics, stronger, SIM-based security and segmentation, and better control over traffic flows and application behavior This transition marked the industry’s first widespread acknowledgment that private 5G is not experimental — it is operationally necessary for industrial digitalization. In short, 2025 was the year private 5G became the required foundation for next-generation mobility and automation, setting the stage for the more advanced architectural trends arriving in 2026. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: The most impactful trend in 2026 will be the rise of AI-driven mobility and automation … and the resulting shift to hybrid wireless architectures built around private 5G. As AGVs, AMRs, drones, and real-time computer vision systems become more common, enterprises need deterministic, low-latency, always-on connectivity that Wi-Fi alone can’t deliver. AI workloads now move through warehouses, yards, and production lines, making seamless roaming and predictable performance essential. This demand is accelerating adoption of private 5G for reliable mobility, micro-slicing to guarantee AI application performance, and hybrid architectures that combine Wi-Fi, private 5G, and DAS for uninterrupted coverage. In 2026, AI becomes the primary driver of wireless infrastructure modernization, pushing enterprises to deploy networks designed for automation, edge intelligence, and continuous mobility. Stephen LeotisPresident and Co-Founder, Moso Networks The most significant development in 2025: In 2025, we saw the dramatic simplification of private 5G architectures, making the technology truly accessible to enterprises and industrial customers. Historically, private 5G deployments required complex, on-premise servers, specialized expertise, and long deployment cycles, which limited adoption outside of larger, technically sophisticated organizations – or a strong SI to deliver the system. Moso and Ataya launched the Chorus P5G solution, which eliminates the need for on-premise servers and reduces deployment to a 5G radio and a secure cloud connection. This architectural shift allows private 5G networks to be deployed indoors and outdoors with the simplicity and speed of Wi-Fi, while delivering the performance, security, and reliability advantages of 5G. This simplification represents a critical inflection point for the industry because it lowers cost, reduces operational complexity, and removes key barriers to enterprise adoption — unlocking private 5G for a much broader range of use cases and customers. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, we will start to see the use of AI to automate and optimize wireless networks – I expect to start seeing this technology in private 5G as well with scale across enterprise and industrial environments where manual configuration and operations become impractical. AI will enable automated provisioning, proactive maintenance, and real-time network optimization, allowing private networks to adapt dynamically to changing conditions and mission-critical requirements. For enterprises, this translates to faster deployment, lower operational complexity, improved reliability, and the ability to support critical communications without specialized cellular expertise. At the same time, private 5G will serve as a key enabler for edge AI applications by providing the reliable, low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity these workloads require. Jonathan LesterCTO, SVP – Product, Airwavz WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The most significant development in 2025: From an in-building wireless perspective, the most significant development in 2025 was the industry-wide normalization of a “carrier no” posture toward traditional, broadly funded in-building investments — particularly across everyday enterprise environments (often described as Tier 2 and Tier 3 venues such as commercial office, healthcare, multifamily, hospitality, and similar properties). This shift has been emerging for several years, but 2025 was the inflection point where all three major U.S. MNOs were consistently aligned: indoor projects increasingly required a building-owner-funded model, even when the need was driven by subscriber experience expectations. The underlying driver is capital prioritization and ROI scrutiny as carriers balance competitive churn pressure, macro-network investment demands, and tighter resource planning — conditions that tend to push venue-specific indoor budgets down the priority stack. The result is a structural reset in how indoor coverage is delivered, accelerating neutral-host and partner-led approaches and placing more accountability on property owners to treat cellular connectivity as core digital infrastructure. Airwavz has continued to support both the carrier and building owner communities through this transition, helping stakeholders align on practical architectures, deployment models, and commercial paths that reliably solve indoor connectivity. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, the most impactful trend will be the continued redefinition of “who pays” and “who owns” the in-building cellular experience and the supporting end-to-end stack — building on 2025’s momentum where MNOs increasingly required property owners to fund indoor solutions, and expanding beyond distributed infrastructure to include more of the RAN equipment (carrier radios) needed to deliver dedicated, reliable indoor signal. As 5G Standalone pushes further indoors and expectations for seamless performance rise, venue owners — particularly in Tier 2/3 environments where general coverage is the primary requirement — will face a step-change in both capital and ongoing operating commitments, even when capacity is not the binding constraint. In parallel, continued Open RAN progress in the macro network should begin to translate into more modular and interoperable options that improve indoor lifecycle economics and deployment flexibility, reinforcing the shift toward neutral-host and partner-led delivery models. Finally, fiber availability and lead times may emerge as a practical gating factor as data-center-driven demand increases pressure on cable manufacturing and on the route-miles needed to connect new campuses, influencing indoor project timing, architecture choices, and total delivered cost across the broader wireless infrastructure ecosystem. Peter LinderHead of Thought Leadership, Ericsson Americas The most significant development in 2025: Continued strong 5G adoption with mobile broadband to smartphone and Fixed Wireless Access, with dual play-based competition. Reaching 79% mobile penetration two years faster than 4G, and FWA capturing more than all net new fixed broadband subscriptions. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: The adoption of AI enabling increased efficiencies in networks and mobile becoming the connectivity of choice for AI inference. The complexity in networks is growing and automation is an essential enabler for differentiated connectivity at scale. AI inference depends on available, reliable, secure and easy-to-use wireless connectivity that is equal to the mobile DNA. Michiel LotterCEO, Nextivity Inc. The most significant development in 2025: In enterprise applications such as retail, we have finally seen the pendulum swing from trusting Wi-Fi to be the sole answer to connecting people and devices to one where cellular connectivity is taking its rightful role as a required connectivity option for shoppers and workers alike. After years of trying to focus on Wi-Fi, enterprises have now experienced that sometimes as little as 15% of shoppers or site visitors will connect to public Wi-Fi systems. This means that to offer a seamless multichannel experience to customers, enterprises must ensure that in-building cellular coverage is excellent. Furthermore, an increased focus on health and safety by all enterprise verticals has made the ability to call for help using a cellphone a must-have capability in any environment. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: Demanding clear, broad-based ROI for any money spent on in-building wireless coverage. The need for in-building wireless is growing, but the business case must be much stronger. This is where combining the in-building cellular business case with a case focused on IoT sensor integration and Private 5G, both using the DAS infrastructure, will become pivotal. End users will demand a DAS that can do more than just provide cellular coverage – they will demand a DAS that will be part of the transformation of their business operations. Sue MarekEditorial Director, Ookla The most significant development in 2025: One of the most important developments in broadband infrastructure in 2025 was the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) changes to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program that were announced in June 2025. These changes allowed for a more technology-neutral stance. Instead of prioritizing fiber deployments, BEAD now allows for LEO satellite systems like Starlink and Amazon’s LEO to get BEAD funding. Ookla® Speedtest data has tracked Starlink’s network performance over the past several years and we’ve noted an uptick in its speeds recently, making it a viable broadband provider in some areas of the U.S. As of Q1 2025, we found that 17.42% of U.S. Starlink Speedtest users were able to get speeds consistent with the FCC’s minimum requirement for fixed broadband of 100 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload speeds. I expect this percentage to increase in 2026. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: I expect to see satellite and fixed wireless access (FWA) continue to chip away at cable’s broadband market share. I think FWA providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T will become more aggressive with FWA by introducing creative pricing tactics that appeal to more consumers. This will cause ongoing anxiety among cable providers. In addition, I expect smaller, regional wireless ISPs (WISPs) that have focused primarily on delivering rural broadband to face increased competition from Starlink. Starlink is aggressively going after new customers with inexpensive hardware deals. WISPs will need to provide competitive pricing and superior customer service to stop their customers from churning to Starlink. Shane McClellandVP, Emerging RAN Products, Ericsson WIA Innovation & Technology Council member The most significant development in 2025: 2025 could well be seen as a turning point in the way MNOs design, deploy, and operate their RAN. I feel that 2025 marked a shift away from geographic and population coverage toward making infrastructure smarter, denser, and more spectrum-efficient. Proof points I see: Widespread 5G SA, 5G Advanced deployments, focus in uplink performance, RAN AI & Automation, commercial slice offerings, etc. The MNOs seem to be focusing more on agile, high-capacity networks that can evolve faster, cost less to expand, and better support the growing demands of 5G, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, and emerging AI-powered applications. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: “Advent of the robot.” Automation and intelligence — both digital and physical — will begin reshaping the ecosystem. I use “robot” broadly here: everything from AI-driven software bots embedded deep within the RAN that continuously tune, optimize, and heal the network, to the emerging wave of connected humanoid robots and autonomous devices that depend on ultra-reliable, low-latency wireless connectivity. This convergence of intelligent automation and ubiquitous connectivity will redefine network expectations, pushing operators and infrastructure providers to deliver smarter, more adaptive, and highly resilient RAN architectures. John PaleskiPresident, Subcarrier Communications The biggest trends impacting the industry in 2025 and 2026: 2025 proved to be a remarkable year for the continued build out and upgrades by the MNOs. We witnessed the early stages of the intersection of emerging technologies such as AI, 5G, Edge Computing, and other intelligent applications. Going into 2026, as we turn 40 years old as a company, we at Subcarrier are in a privileged position of having upgraded our tower sites for anticipated industry growth as I’m sure many other towercos have. We should be well prepared for the anticipated increased tower loading on the horizon. We have been discussing the anticipated reality of 5G Advanced (5GA) with one carrier in particular. Momentum is certainly building and headed to a new network upgrade cycle. New 5GA features should lead to an increased revenue stream and justify further investments. Both the Internet of things (IOT) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will similarly receive a boost in data rates and features. The 6G chatter will grow louder as the year progresses, and early stages of 6G research and the standardization phase will finally begin. New frequency bands (perhaps 300 megahertz for each MNO) will be identified, developed and codified. China, India, Japan and the U.S. will continue to set the pace for a global rollout. Political considerations may quicken the rollout here, as the Trump Administration will surely seek to have its fingerprints on these accomplishments. A hockey stick curve of demand for mobile data will continue throughout the year and well into 2027. Mobile AI will drive network upgrades as it will become the dominant force shaping the 2026 landscape. Gen AI will become integrated and optimized across evolving 5GA networks. Look for Edge Computing to become even more relevant as users demand increased computing power and infrastructure closer to their data sources. Demands for real-time data will become a key issue. These tech upgrades and advances will continue to outpace the relatively slow progress the wireless industry is making. At some point the tech ecosystem advances and innovations will force the MNOs to optimize for this. New investments will become necessary to accommodate the rapid growth forced upon it by the tech sector. Power issues will continue to be problematic and new energy solutions must be found. Permitting reform will become a strong FCC issue this year and network development may become less problematic. Look for the present FCC deregulatory environment to continue reducing bureaucratic delays and expenses – thank you Brendan Carr! In short, the MNOs will be focusing on evolving technologies, each vying to gain an edge and create their own niche in an increasingly complex and tech-driven wireless environment. Marc RohlederChief Technology Officer, Boldyn Networks The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, the private 5G market will have firmly shifted from PoCs to full-scale production, focused on mission-critical deployments in ports, airports, rail yards, mining and hospitals, critical to daily operations. Private 5G will increasingly connect autonomous vehicles, cranes, robots, sensors, and mobile worker communications in challenging environments where other wireless solutions such as Wi-Fi and public networks can’t fully support. And as enterprise goes through its latest digital transformation to enable deeper AI insights, private network services will become more bespoke and verticalized to meet the unique needs across different industries, with “Private 5G as a Service” becoming a key enabler to reach a wider market. Additionally, shared infrastructure will remain the default and preferred solution for space-constrained, challenging environments. Cities, transit systems (including airports and rail systems), along with venue and stadium owners, will increasingly expect a single neutral host platform to support multiple MNOs and private networks. These verticals realize the value of in-building and underground wireless technology to their end users. RAN sharing, an emerging technology, will grow in 2026 to achieve coverage, cost efficiency, and sustainability goals. Julie SongPresident, Advanced RF Technologies, Inc. The most significant development in 2025: One of the most significant developments in the wireless infrastructure industry in 2025 was the growing convergence of policy, public safety requirements, and in-building wireless technology, particularly in schools and public spaces. School safety legislation, including the continued momentum behind Alyssa’s Law, made clear that reliable indoor connectivity is no longer optional, but foundational to emergency response and modern safety strategies. In 2025, schools increasingly moved toward unified in-building wireless networks that support both commercial and public safety communications, enabling interoperability across panic alerts, surveillance, and first responder systems. This shift elevated ERCES and converged infrastructure from compliance-driven deployments to strategic investments, marking 2025 as the year wireless infrastructure became a core pillar of school and public safety. The biggest trend impacting the industry in 2026: In 2026, the trend that will most significantly impact the wireless infrastructure industry will be the convergence of enterprise wireless growth with sustainability-driven network design, fueled by data center expansion and the accelerating adoption of private 5G. As data centers continue to proliferate to support AI, cloud, and edge computing, energy efficiency will move from a design consideration to a core deployment requirement. Wireless infrastructure, particularly in-building and campus environments, will be increasingly engineered to minimize power consumption, reduce heat, and integrate more tightly with energy-aware data center architectures, pushing vendors and enterprises alike to prioritize greener, more efficient solutions. At the same time, the rise of private 5G networks will fundamentally reshape enterprise connectivity strategies. Enterprises are no longer willing to rely solely on carrier-funded or best-effort models for mission-critical operations. Instead, we’ll see broader adoption of private 5G deployments using a mix of shared and licensed spectrum, including Part 20, to deliver deterministic performance, enhanced security, and greater operational control. This shift will further accelerate enterprise wireless investment across industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare, where connectivity is directly tied to productivity and safety. Latest News, WIA Blog