Originally posted on Data Center POST.
At the inaugural event of The In-Building Wireless Association (TIWA), industry leaders gathered for a candid panel titled “The Carrier’s Role: Building the Future of In-Building Wireless.” The discussion, featuring senior executives from AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, leading real estate firms, and technology providers, offered a rare inside look at the shifting economics, partnership models, and technology trends shaping in-building connectivity.
Evolving Economics: Who Pays for In-Building Wireless?
A central theme was the industry’s transition from carrier-funded to venue-funded models for in-building wireless systems. “A few years ago, the carriers used to pay for the whole system… but it’s very, very expensive to cover a building, and the value just isn’t the same as putting up a macro site,” explained Carl Busseno, Radio Access Network Director at AT&T. Today, carriers are more selective, focusing investment where there’s clear ROI, and increasingly expecting building owners or tenants to share costs.
Manny Dureja, President and Founder of Airtower, highlighted this shift: “We’ve never collected a dollar from the mobile carriers. It’s been venue-funded. The ability to deliver at scale is certainly one of the biggest challenges, and that’s why we’ve focused on subscription-based services to demystify the complexity for real estate owners.”
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