As 5G, AI, and the Internet of Things accelerate America’s digital future, tower infrastructure has become the backbone of connected life—powering everything from smart cities to remote working. But with urban densification, rural coverage gaps, and evolving land use challenges, operators and investors face a new era of complexity in network expansion. This panel unpacks how public and private actors are rethinking site selection, permitting, and partnerships to deliver the next wave of reliable, resilient, and future-ready tower infrastructure across the country.

• How are permitting, zoning, and community engagement evolving as wireless infrastructure densifies in urban and suburban markets?

• How are investors 

• With rural and underserved areas still lagging in coverage, what business and policy models are proving effective to incentivize new tower development beyond the major metro corridors?

• What are the emerging trends in deal structuring, financing, and risk-sharing between carriers, towercos, and municipalities as 5G and next-gen technologies drive greater capacity needs?