If you’re wondering what’s going on in the wireless industry, a good place to start is with the nation’s major tower companies. After all, most of the nation’s wireless carriers install their network equipment on the towers from third-party tower companies like Crown Castle, American Tower and SBA Communications.  

Thus, comments from the nation’s tower companies are key to discerning what the nation’s wireless carriers are doing with their networks in the runup to 5G.  

As the second-quarter earnings season comes to a close in the U.S. cellular tower industry, here’s what tower executives are saying: 1, The tower industry is growing. Virtually all of the nation’s tower companies agreed that wireless carriers are increasing their spending on their wireless networks ahead of the launch of 5G. This work includes installing new equipment and spectrum bands on existing towers in order to transmit 5G signals, as well as deploying equipment to new locations (like small cells) in order to densify wireless networks.