Verizon locks in tower deal with SBA for 5G expansion

According to DCD, Verizon has signed a long-term tower agreement with SBA Communications to support the expansion of its 4G and 5G services across the United States. The deal provides Verizon with significant cost certainty while enabling flexibility in managing its current infrastructure portfolio and deploying new technologies. SBA Communications operates more than 17,400 telecom towers in the US and 44,000 globally. Verizon’s VP of Engineering Phillip French stated the agreement creates a framework to efficiently build out their network and stay nimble with future advancements. This announcement comes just months after SBA sold its Canadian tower business to investment firm CVC DIF for CA$446 million ($316 million) in August.

<h2 id="tower-deal-analysis”>The real story behind tower deals

Look, tower companies love these long-term agreements because they’re basically guaranteed revenue streams. SBA gets to lock in one of the biggest wireless carriers for years, which is fantastic for their investors. But here’s the thing – Verizon’s talking about “cost certainty” like it’s some huge win. Isn’t that just corporate speak for “we’re tired of negotiating tower rates every few years”?

And let’s be real about the timing. SBA just cashed out of Canada for over $300 million, and now they’re securing a major domestic partnership. That’s not a coincidence – they’re clearly positioning themselves as the go-to tower provider for US carriers. But I have to wonder: does this agreement actually mean faster 5G deployment for consumers, or is it mostly about financial engineering and predictable expenses?

What this actually means for your 5G

So will you notice better coverage because of this deal? Probably not immediately. These tower agreements are about the backend infrastructure that makes everything possible, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Verizon still needs to actually deploy equipment, secure spectrum, and handle all the local permitting headaches that slow down tower upgrades.

The flexibility Verizon mentions is interesting though. It suggests they want the ability to quickly adapt their network as technology evolves, which makes sense given how rapidly 5G standards are changing. But let’s be honest – tower companies aren’t known for being particularly agile. They own the real estate, and carriers have to work within their constraints.

Basically, this is Verizon making a strategic bet that having predictable tower costs and access to SBA’s 17,400+ US sites will give them an edge in the ongoing 5G arms race against AT&T and T-Mobile. Whether that translates to better service for customers remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a move that strengthens their network foundation for whatever comes next in wireless.