Wireless Tower Operators Face Off

Crown Castle will advance to the top spot with the acquisition of Global Signal. Now it's nearest rival American Tower's play

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Olga Kharif

October 9, 2006 at 4:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The ball is squarely in American Tower's court. In the acquisitions volley between the top two U.S. wireless tower operators, Crown Castle just hit an ace. On Oct. 6, the company said it's buying smaller operator Global Signal for $5.8 billion in cash, stock, and debt. If the deal goes through, the enlarged company will have more than 23,500 towers, leapfrogging American Tower and its 22,500 towers to become the largest tower operator in the U.S.

Both American Tower (AMT) and Crown Castle (CCI) have been on acquisition tears. Last year, American Tower spent $3.9 billion on smaller rival SpectraSite (see BusinessWeek.com, 8/1/05, "Wireless-Tower Outfits: Rising High"). Crown Castle purchased Mountain Union for $309 million in May and snapped up TrinTel last year.