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.”

Partnerships and Pain Points

Panelists agreed that strong partnerships between carriers and property owners are more critical—and complex—than ever. Jim Whalen, Chief Technology Officer of BXP, expressed concern about the evolving dynamic: “We’re sitting on some infrastructure that’s continuing to age… The current processes and interactions are becoming more transactional. It’s a little bit broken when it takes 18 months to two years just to get a signal source. That’s a broken process.”

Nick Stello, Senior Vice President of IT at Vornado, echoed the need for collaboration: “We have a responsibility to our tenants, and [the carriers] have a responsibility to their customers. The relationship is now a think tank, almost, trying to figure out how we move forward together.”

Henry Kelch, System Performance Lead at Verizon Wireless, emphasized early and open communication: “The earlier we know about what’s coming, the better. We have to plan for it with you guys… Open lines of communication are critical.”

Technology Trends and Tenant Expectations

The panel explored the tension between current tenant needs and emerging technologies. While 5G and private networks are gaining attention, “the killer app in every single one of these cases is: does my cell phone make a call?” said Dureja. Both Stello and Whalen stressed that, for many tenants, reliable LTE service remains a baseline requirement, with 5G adoption driven more by marketing than by clear use cases—at least for now.

Andrew Poulsen  of T-Mobile noted, “All of the devices that have been out for years now are [5G] capable, and it’s where we see the most efficiency in our network… But LTE is still an important technology, especially for IoT, and will be around for quite some time.”

The group also discussed new solutions like CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service), which can offer cost-effective, flexible alternatives to traditional Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), especially for large tenants or owner-occupied buildings.

Key Takeaways and Predictions

  • Venue-funded models are the new norm: Carriers are less likely to fully fund in-building systems, making partnership and creative financing essential.
  • Communication is critical: Early, transparent collaboration between carriers, owners, and tenants is necessary to meet evolving connectivity needs.
  • Technology is evolving, but basics matter: While 5G and CBRS are promising, reliable voice and data coverage remain the top priority for most tenants.
  • In-building wireless is now a utility: “It’s not an amenity anymore,” said Stello. “It’s an absolute requirement. If someone can’t perform their work because their cell phone isn’t working, that’s not an amenity—it’s a necessity.”
  • The future is about scalable, affordable solutions: As Busseno put it, “We all have to find ways of doing it better, cheaper, faster… That’s what’s going to drive the next level of growth.”

Final Thoughts

The panelists were unanimous in their call for continued innovation and partnership. As Whalen concluded, “I just want cheaper technology that enables this continued partnership, and I hope to see it.” The consensus: In-building wireless is no longer a luxury—it’s a foundational utility, and its future will be built on collaboration, transparency, and adaptability.

The In-Building Wireless Association (TIWA) is a regional forum connecting commercial real estate, healthcare, government, and technology sectors with the wireless industry. TIWA fosters education, networking, and collaboration around in-building connectivity solutions like DAS, Wi-Fi, IoT, and smart buildings. Founded by industry leaders, TIWA hosts panels and events across the U.S., supporting the convergence of real estate and wireless as the “5th Utility.”

Contact: info@inbuildingwirelessassociation.com

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.  With support by NEDAS President Ilissa Miller and founding member Steve Yapsuga, TIWA – and an esteemed list of industry executives – the organization is uniquely positioned to drive the next phase of industry transformation, offering a platform where real estate and wireless truly meet.

You can learn more about TIWA here:  www.inbuildingwirelessassociation.com.