The global telecom tower market is quietly undergoing a major transformation. With the industry valued at $85 billion in 2024 and expected to reach over $222 billion by 2031, it’s clear that wireless infrastructure is becoming one of the most compelling asset classes of the decade.

But behind the growth headlines and blue-chip tower companies lies a segment of the market that's often overlooked: small, independently owned cell towers. These low-profile assets—scattered across rural communities, secondary markets, and private land—may be one of the last frontiers of alpha in digital infrastructure.

Who Really Owns the Towers?

In the United States, tower ownership is heavily consolidated. Giants like American Tower, Crown Castle, and SBA Communications control roughly 75% of the nation's cell towers, having bought out or absorbed most operator-owned infrastructure over the past two decades.

That leaves about 25% of towers in the hands of:

• Independent landowners and businesses

• Local utilities and municipalities

• Regional carriers and rural ISPs

• Tribal entities and cooperatives

Outside the U.S., the picture is more varied. In many countries, mobile network operators (MNOs) stportions of tower assets, but there’s a growing shift toward tower company carve-outs and monetization strategies, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The $2.55 Billion Market No One's Talking About

If we take just 3% of the global tower market, a conservative estimate for small and independently owned assets, we’re looking at a segment worth approximately $2.55 billion.

While that might seem like a sliver compared to the big players, it represents a sizable and under-capitalized niche. Many of these towers are mission-critical for local coverage but fall below the radar of institutional buyers.

And here’s the kicker, if just 5% of these assets change hands in a given year, through sale-leasebacks, M&A roll-ups, or tower lease securitizations that’s $127.5 million in potential annual transaction volume. Incredibly attractive for boutique funds, infrastructure platforms, and private investors looking for yield. Yield which can be between 5% and 14%.

Why This Matters Now

The tailwinds for small tower investment are lining up:

• AI expansion and 5G deployment is driving demand for both macro and small cell sites

• Rural broadband expansion is being fueled by public funding and carrier mandates

• Tower lease revenue streams are increasingly seen as stable, inflation-linked income

These smaller assets also tend to offer higher returns than institutional portfolios, due to their lower acquisition multiples, lack of competition, and operational inefficiencies that can be cleaned up with the right platform.

Big Potential in Small Places

The cell tower sector is no longer just about sky-high valuations and REIT consolidation. The real opportunity now may lie in the long tail of underappreciated assets that still support critical mobile coverage across vast geographies. SkyTrade Finance are in pole position with their technology and global telecom development partners.

For infrastructure investors, developers, and fintech platforms that can efficiently source and manage these deals, the upside is compelling:

• Recurring cash flow
  Limited competition

• Infrastructure-grade security with real estate-backed collateral

• Re lease Rates of 99%