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Wireless Infrastructure By the Numbers: 2025 Key Statistics

Source Decision Insights Record Published March 18, 2026 Companies 1
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1st article in the last 90 days, the first article referencing U.S. Cellular.

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The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Infrastructure by the Numbers report looked at U.S. wireless infrastructure and the resources used to build, maintain and operate cellular networks. The publication focused on physical infrastructure such as towers and small cells, along with spending levels and employment tied to the networks.

The report said that in 2025 the U.S. cellular industry invested more than $10.2 billion in expanding network capacity and coverage, excluding expenditures on spectrum, maintenance, and ongoing operations. It also reported operating expenses for U.S. cellular networks at nearly $54.7 billion in 2025, and total wireless infrastructure investments—including construction, maintenance, and operations—at nearly $65 billion.

For network assets at the end of 2025, the report stated that 158,500 purpose-built cellular towers were in operation, along with 254,850 macrocell sites not including small cells. It added that 198,100 outdoor small cells were in operation and 830,350 indoor small cell nodes were in use, including distributed antenna systems, small cells, private Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) networks, and Millimeter Wave (mmWave) and other licensed frequency bands.

WIA reported that the deployment and operation of wireless infrastructure engaged an estimated 342,350 full-time workers or equivalents in building, maintaining and operating the nation’s cellular networks. It said Fixed Wireless Access connected more than 14 million households, and it framed wireless infrastructure as part of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure stack as apps and services increasingly embed AI.

Press release, originally published by wiaadmin at wia.org.

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