As the dust settles on another impactful edition of TowerXchange, we take a moment to look back at what was a landmark gathering for the tower and telecom infrastructure ecosystem. Our colleagues Mike Dakin - Managing Director at Connect44 UK, and Lee Smelt - Group Technical Solutions Director, immersed themselves in the event, bringing back invaluable insights and connections. 

Atmosphere & Energy: A Pulse of Purpose

This year’s TowerXchange, hosted at the InterContinental O2 in London, UK, was marked by a noticeable sense of momentum and transformation. Industry leaders and infrastructure innovators came together with a clear goal: accelerating the deployment of next-generation networks while navigating a shifting economic and regulatory landscape. The mood was constructive, forward-looking, and filled with pragmatic optimism - echoing a shared determination to evolve beyond traditional TowerCo models.

Key Themes from the Opening Keynote:

• Two new Tower-co’s and more carve outs in the East: towerCos continue to form as a result of changing MNO dynamics. As MNO’s continue to rationalise and relinquish control (and in some cases direct ownership) of their site infrastructure to private investors, this opens up the opportunity for TowerCo’s to develop new use cases, particularly around hosting of shared RAN networks and driving up the rate of Small Cells deployment activities.
• Ongoing M&A / MNO Consolidation: across Europe, there is a continued focus on the optimum balance between market competition and technological advancement. As such, we are seeing in many cases the number of MNOs reducing from 4 to 3 (e.g. Spain with the Orange / MasMovil merge, and UK with the Vodafone / 3 merge). The intent is to consolidate resources, leverage synergies, and free up working capital to increase the speed of technological advancement; particularly ailing 5G rollout.
• Slow 5G SA Rollout: Just 40% Coverage: non-standalone 5G networks remains one of the biggest challenges in developing “true” 5G use-cases. The need for ultra-low latency along with heightened speeds means it’s imperative 5G standalone networks are created to meet these use case requirements. However, with MNOs continuing to suffer from macro-economical challenges, not least their own inabilities to develop new revenue streams as a result of 5G, the desire to invest and rollout at pace remains cautious. This has created a European wide challenge in having 5G SA networks rolled out quickly. According to Ookla, China, India, Singapore and the US maintain a substantial lead, with China leading the way in terms of overall 5G SA reach, hitting 77.1% by the end of 2024 (source: https://www.ookla.com/articles/5g-global-reach-2025#:~:text=Asia%20Pacific%20remains%20at%20the,Singapore%20(37.5%25)%20leading%20globally).
• Increased industry wide push to bridge connectivity gaps through integration with satellite comms: SatCo’s continue to assume a more prominent role in providing connectivity solutions, particularly in those hard to reach locations. With a strong showing at MWC and further recognition at Tower Xchange, it’s clear that that Satellite Comms will remain a feature moving forward, particularly as MNOs have targets and – in some cases – regulatory obligations to increase coverage within rural communities. With 6G definition ongoing, SatCo’s may play an even more prominent role in delivering connectivity to consumers of all walks-of-life. 

Focus Themes & Key Discussions

• Collaborative Infrastructure Evolution: Christian Hillbrant (CEO, Vantage Towers) set the tone by highlighting Germany’s €500 billion infrastructure investment commitment. Collaboration between all four German MNOs and the move toward active sharing was a recurring topic.
• AI & Digital Transformation: Marco Patuano (Chairman, Cellnex & EWIA) and others placed AI at the heart of future-proofing telecom infrastructure. From predictive maintenance to network optimisation, artificial intelligence is no longer optional - it’s central.
• Neutral Hosts & Smart Cities: INWIT’s Diego Galli emphasised the evolution of TowerCos into digital enablers. Projects in Rome demonstrate how infrastructure providers are now facilitating public Wi-Fi, IoT, and urban transformation through Smart City initiatives.
• Regulatory Streamlining & Efficiency: multiple speakers, including from EWIA, discussed the pain points of permitting, which still averages 14-18 months in Europe. There’s a strong collective push for faster, more predictable approval pathways to align with network densification targets.

Thought-Provoking Panels

• How Investors See Tech Innovation: panelists from Brookfield, Ardian, Pinnacle Towers, and DigitalBridge dove into the investor mindset. Beyond financial ROI, the panel stressed strategic metrics like data accuracy, speed of execution, and leadership vision. The key message? Real transformation must come from the top down - and data is the new currency. 
• Unlocking Future Technologies: Abdulrahman Al Maiquel (TAWAL) provided a thought provoking look into the future: 6G is approaching, ORAN still faces friction, and the promise of spectrum-leasing by TowerCos could soon become a reality. TAWAL’s active global expansion is a signal of growing InfraCo ambition well beyond borders.

What We’re Taking Away

• The TowerCo is Evolving - There’s a consensus that traditional asset management must give way to a new identity: TowerCos as digital infrastructure platforms.
• AI & Automation Are Imperative - Whether in lease management, preventative maintenance, or network deployment, technology adoption is a decisive advantage.
• Investor Strategy is Shifting - Investors want operational excellence, not just asset volume. Sustainability, innovation, and speed are key levers of value.
• Neutral Hosting is the Future - The days of one-tower-one-operator are numbered. Shared access and modular, flexible solutions are in high demand.

 Industry Perspectives: A Differentiated Outlook

Conversations throughout the event highlighted an interesting divergence in strategic positioning, particularly among UK-based infrastructure providers:

• Some firms, such as Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG), emphasised independence from MNO ownership, prioritising flexibility and neutrality in their service model - an approach that stands apart from other TowerCo’s underpinned by MNO shareholdings.
• Their operating principle is value through customer trust, not just cost-saving metrics. There was clear reticence around aggressive outsourcing, with a preference for retaining control of critical and customer-facing roles - notably Site Access.
• A mixed view on strategic direction, with some favouring keeping operations UK-based, whilst others clearly look to find synergies through offshore centralisation and transformation, reflecting different approaches to ensuring quality and consistency in service.
• Investment is healthy, but selectively applied - with infrastructure reliability and customer retention valued over short-term financial efficiencies.
• Notably, there’s recognition that parts of their operation - particularly around NOC and field maintenance - may require future refinement given a maturing tower estate and design-life expiration. Current workarounds are seen as temporary measures.

These conversations offered deeper insight into how providers differentiate themselves not only in technology, but in operational philosophy and stakeholder alignment.

 Final Thoughts

TowerXchange 2025 reaffirmed that the tower and telecom infrastructure industry stands at a crossroads of rapid innovation and systemic reform. For Connect44 UK, the event was more than just a conference - it was a compass. With strategic alignment to emerging trends, like shared infrastructure, smart cities, and AI-led operational models, we’re well positioned to support our partners and clients as they build the networks of tomorrow.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to delivering intelligent, scalable solutions that keep our clients ahead of the curve. TowerXchange 2025 wasn’t just about what’s next - it was about what’s possible.