At the inaugural event of The In-Building Wireless Association (TIWA), a regional forum connecting commercial real estate, healthcare, government, and technology sectors with the wireless industry, featured a standout panel titled “Use Cases + Solutions for the Future of In-Building Connectivity.” The panel brought together leaders from government, real estate, and technology to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of indoor wireless infrastructure. The panel, moderated by Steve Yapsuga, featured Teryn Zmuda (National Association of Counties), Cecilia Li (Urban Edge Properties), Nick Stello (Vornado), Kishore Raja (InfiniG), Howard Buzick (American Bandwidth), and Mike Wasjgras (RK2).

Economic Trends, Federal Funding, and the Demand for Connectivity

The discussion opened with a look at how high interest rates and economic factors influence infrastructure investment. Panelists highlighted the impact of federal initiatives, such as the $65 billion allocated for high-speed internet access nationwide, which is driving new opportunities for public-private partnerships.

Teryn Zmuda, Chief Economist at National Association of Counties, emphasized the public sector’s responsibility: “Counties across the nation invest about $700 billion in services every year, with about 20% going to infrastructure. Connectivity is at the highest demand level I’ve ever seen in my career.”  Zmuda stressed the need for responsible investment, transparency, and serving the public—especially in critical facilities like hospitals and emergency operation centers.

Collaboration and the Tenant Experience

Cecilia Li, Chief Information Officer at Urban Edge Properties, shared the commercial real estate perspective, noting that connectivity for retail properties is about enhancing comfort, experience, and safety for tenants and shoppers: “We want technology partners who understand what we’re trying to solve for. It’s not just about implementing technology for technology’s sake—it’s about the user experience and supporting our business goals.”

Nick Stello, Senior Vice President of Information Technology at Vornado, described his company’s experience with large-scale redevelopment projects around Penn Station, highlighting the importance of close relationships with state and federal agencies: “There’s going to be a lot of closer relationships and work with state and federal agencies. The transformation we’re seeing is definitely beneficial.”

Technology Innovation: Neutral Host, Shared Infrastructure, and AI

Kishore Raja, Chief Cloud + AI Officer at InfiniG, outlined the promise of shared, cloud-based infrastructure: “We provide a very easy, secure, scalable, and cost-effective way to deploy wireless networks using shared infrastructure. The goal is to make it as easy as deploying Wi-Fi, but future-compatible as technologies evolve.”

Howard Buzick, co-founder and Senior Vice President of Business Development at American Bandwidth, demonstrated how existing Wi-Fi networks can be leveraged for seamless cellular connectivity, enabling fast, affordable deployment, sometimes in as little as an hour.

The panel agreed that neutral host models and shared infrastructure can accelerate deployment and broaden access, but education and alignment among landlords, tenants, and carriers remain barriers.

AI, Data, and Future Use Cases

AI and cloud-native solutions are reshaping network design and operations. Raja noted: “AI is solving all kinds of problems, from operations to predictive analytics and location-based services. The combination of AI and cloud is empowering solution providers to deliver faster, more scalable solutions.”

Li and Stello described how data and IoT are driving new use cases—from license plate readers for safety to wireless-enabled IoT sensors for energy management and shopper analytics.

“We rely on all the sensors we have to know and understand data, so we can provide the best experience for our tenants and shoppers,” said Li.

Zmuda added that the government is using AI for planning, tracking, and predictive analytics, while also working to establish best practices for regulation and data use.

Smart Cities, Public Safety, and Funding Models

The panel explored the role of in-building connectivity in broader smart city initiatives. Mike Wasjgras, CEO of RK Squared, highlighted that 80% of wireless traffic is in-building, making indoor infrastructure foundational for smart cities and public safety.

Buzick explained how advanced Wi-Fi can support public safety by enabling precise device location for emergency response: “With new Wi-Fi standards, you can find a device’s location as close as one meter, including vertically, critical for 911 and first responder scenarios.”

Zmuda and Raja discussed innovative financing, with Zmuda emphasizing the importance of early partnership and transparency in public-private projects, and Raja advocating for shifting the conversation from cost centers to value centers through monetization of data and services.

Key Takeaways for Future-Ready Systems

  • Flexibility and Openness: Systems must be designed for change, not just today’s needs. “Design for change. Maintain open standards and flexibility in both infrastructure and business models,” said Raja.
  • Collaboration: Proactive, transparent communication among all stakeholders is essential.
  • Security: Shared infrastructure brings shared risk, making robust cybersecurity and cloud-native solutions critical.
  • Data and Monetization: Leveraging data and AI can unlock new value streams and operational efficiencies.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Early, transparent collaboration and innovative financing are key to successful projects.

As Zmuda concluded: “We want connected communities, reliable crisis response, and secure networks. The demand for connectivity has never been higher.”

Why TIWA?

TIWA stands on the shoulders of giants—drawing on the experience of NEDAS, a pioneering association that has educated and connected professionals at the convergence of wireline and wireless since 2011. As the original founder of NEDAS, Ezra Hug has modernized his vision for what the industry needs. Supported by NEDAS President Ilissa Miller, founding member Steve Yapsuga, TIWA, and a distinguished group of industry executives, the organization is strategically positioned to lead the next phase of industry transformation by providing a platform where real estate and wireless seamlessly converge.

To learn more about TIWA, visit: www.inbuildingwirelessassociation.com.