AT&T on Tuesday announced an agreement with Atlanta wireless infrastructure company CitySwitch to construct new cellular towers.
The companies said in a statement that the towers will be built-to-suit based on future wireless network demands. AT&T will lease the completed sites from CitySwitch, and the deal will also enable the carrier to relocate equipment from its other cell sites.
Company officials added the agreement would bolster the nation’s wireless infrastructure and help add new sites in areas where they currently don’t exist. AT&T said it would also provide an alternative to a traditional tower leasing model that “isn’t cost-effective or sustainable.”
“This deal is another step in continuing to diversify our suppliers based on site needs, increasing competition in the provision of tower space and exploring new avenues to cut costs,” AT&T Global Connections and Supply Chain EVP Susan Johnson said in a statement.
Tower construction plans are set to begin as early as the second half of the year, the companies said.
“With AT&T’s nationwide FirstNet build project underway and 5G on the horizon, it’s important AT&T addresses its network real estate needs in new and thoughtful ways,” said CitySwitch President and CEO Rob Raville.
Filed Under: Infrastructure