Wireless Infrastructure Association Chair Cathy Piche discusses wireless infrastructure trends

Cathy Piche, Chair of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) board and Executive Vice President and COO of Towers at Crown Castle, addressed attendees at the New York State Wireless Association conference held in New York City on October 29, 2025. Her remarks highlighted the role of wireless infrastructure in supporting connectivity and public safety communications across the United States.

Wireless networks, integral to modern communication, facilitate a majority of emergency responses, with nearly 85% of 9-1-1 calls now originating from mobile devices. The infrastructure supporting these networks comprises over 155,000 towers along with numerous small cells and indoor wireless systems, forming the foundational elements of current digital communication services.

Data consumption via mobile networks has substantially increased, reaching 132 trillion megabytes in 2024 — a volume comparable to streaming 44 billion high-definition movies. This rise in usage is driven by video streaming platforms and expanding user-generated content. Additionally, emerging applications such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), real-time translation, and Augmented Reality (AR) require enhanced network capabilities, including low latency and reliable uplink capacity.

The industry is preparing for these demands through several strategic approaches. Measures include the reallocation of 800 Megahertz (MHz) of spectrum for commercial use within the next decade, with at least 100 MHz of upper C-band spectrum targeted for availability by mid-2027. Investments exceeding $32 billion in wireless Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) were made in the previous year, and projections indicate continued growth in this area. Emerging trends such as fixed wireless access, supported in part by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, currently connect millions and are expected to expand. Further, edge computing initiatives position network towers as micro data centers to support AI and other low-latency functions.

Piche said, “As we move into what I’d describe as the AI hypergrowth phase, we expect data consumption to accelerate by another 80%, over the next five years.” She also noted, “The work you do—building and maintaining infrastructure—literally saves lives. Wireless is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation of modern life.”

Looking forward, the industry faces challenges related to escalating data demand, the integration of AI-driven applications, and regulatory issues regarding permitting and spectrum policy. The trajectory outlined in these remarks indicates sustained development within the wireless infrastructure domain over the coming years.