The mobile cellular operator radio access network (RAN) infrastructure domain is evolving rapidly. The traditional landscape of macro-centric base station towers and rooftop antenna clusters is also taking on small cell base stations, which include microcells, picocells, and even outdoor femtocells. There are also pressures to streamline capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) costs relating to the running of the radio access network. These seismic changes in the mobile cell-site landscape are providing a number of commercial and investment opportunities for tower management companies as well as the suppliers of the various hardware and software components that make up the RAN cell-site.
This report provides quantitative and qualitative insight into overall macro and small cell-site capital expenditure by mobile operators, as well as the development and role played by tower management companies in managing cell-sites.