The “laundry list” of upcoming changes to U.S....

The “laundry list” of upcoming changes to U.S. wireless networks means tower companies have room to grow and will become increasingly attractive targets for acquisition, Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said Thursday in a note to investors. Fritzsche attended PCIA’s Wireless Infrastructure Show in Orlando this week, which she summed up with a panelist’s quote that “the runway is very long.” Upcoming catalysts include the FCC’s AWS-3 and TV incentive auctions, Fritzsche said. The AWS-3 auction is likely to be a boon for tower companies, she said. She also noted additional catalysts, including the continued rise of small cells, spectrum densification efforts from Verizon and AT&T, Sprint’s rollout of its 2.5 GHz spectrum, T-Mobile US’s rollout on the 700 MHz A block and continued upgrades to LTE Advanced, 5G and Voice over LTE.