For years, "tokenized real estate" has been the headline act in the world of real-world assets (RWAS). Apartments, commercial buildings, and even parcels of land have all found their way onto blockchains, promising: liquidity, fractional ownership, and passive income. But while real estate sounds familiar and tangible, it hasn't quite delivered the revolution many expected, yet. Now, a new contender is quietly emerging - telecom infrastructure; and it might just be the better, smarter, and more scalable digital asset.

The Limitations of Real Estate Tokenization

Tokenizing buildings makes sense in theory. It opens the door for anyone, anywhere, to invest in property without buying the whole thing. It also improves liquidity and democratizes ownership, at least on paper. In practice, though, real estate tokenization hits a few walls. Turning apartments or offices into tokens doesn't exactly solve the messy realities of property management. There are still tenants to handle, repairs to fund, and the occasional empty unit that eats into profits. Even when everything runs smoothly, returns aren't spectacular; most rental yields hover between 3% and 6% after costs.

There is also the issue of geography.

Real estate is stubbornly local, meaning you can't fully automate it or scale globally without deep local expertise, legal know-how, and physical oversight. And since prices swing with interest rates and economic shifts, it's not as stable as people may assume. So yes, tokenization made real estate more accessible, but not necessarily more efficient, and for many investors, it still feels like trying to manage a part-time job remotely.

Can Telecom Infrastructure Eclipse Real Estate On-Chain?

While tokenized real estate may struggle to scale, on-chain equities like tokenized versions of traditional company shares, have started gaining traction. They have shown that when assets are natively digital, programmable, and backed by real economic activity, investors pay attention.

And this is where telecom infrastructure fits in perfectly.

Like equities, it’s built on recurring cash flows and proven demand, yet unlike corporate stocks, it’s anchored in physical infrastructure that powers the digital economy 24/7.

Telecom towers aren’t just tall metal structures; they’re the invisible backbone of global connectivity, and as digital demand surges, their fundamentals only get stronger. For starters, telecom leases are long-term; usually 5 to 15 years, and typically include rent escalations linked to inflation. That means lower vacancy risk and more predictable cash flow. The yields are another story entirely; after expenses, telecom sites can deliver 7–12% net yields, easily outperforming most real estate assets, and they’re easier to manage. Investors don’t need to fix broken pipes or chase down tenants. Maintenance, tenant relations, and service operations are all handled by telecom professionals.

And the tenants themselves?

They are usually large operators or government agencies; reliable payers with strong credit histories. Telecom infrastructure scales effortlessly. Towers can be deployed anywhere, from bustling cities to remote rural areas, giving investors exposure to both developed and emerging markets without the physical and legal headaches of real estate.

The On-Chain Advantage

When tokenized, telecom infrastructure combines all these real-world strengths with blockchain’s efficiency. Fractional ownership of income-producing towers becomes more liquid, transparent, and programmable. Tokens can:

– Pay automated dividends in stablecoins like USDC,

– Be staked or used as collateral in DeFi, and

– Distribute yield seamlessly through smart contracts.

Tokenized real estate walked so that better assets could run. Telecom infrastructure represents that next evolution, a category that delivers: stronger and steadier returns, less operational friction, dependable tenants, and built-in exposure to the digital economy powering everything from 5G to AI. For investors chasing real yield in the RWA space, telecom towers offer something unique: assets that are both physical and programmable, stable yet scalable, and constantly working in the background.

They don’t just sit there, they power connection, commerce, and communication every second of every day. And that’s exactly why telecom infrastructure could be the next big on-chain asset.