Steven Vondran, president and CEO of American Tower Corp. (NYSE: AMT), sat down for a video interview during Nareit’s REITworld: 2024 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18-21.
Vondran discussed the company's pivotal role in the digital communications ecosystem. American Tower owns approximately 148,000 wireless communication towers globally, with 42,000 located in the U.S., along with 28 interconnected data centers in the U.S. These towers serve as platforms for wireless carriers, allowing them to deploy equipment that supports daily communications, including mobile phone signals. Vondran described these towers as vertical office buildings that enable wireless networks worldwide, supporting the company’s vision of a more connected world.
Meanwhile, Vondran reflected on the dramatic evolution of the wireless infrastructure industry during his 24 years at American Tower. Initially, cell phones were a luxury with limited functionality (2G), but today, mobile phones are essential for services like health care, banking, and real-time communication. The introduction of advanced technologies, such as 5G, continues to transform how people interact with digital services.
He also discussed American Tower's acquisition of CoreSite data centers, which provide critical interconnection services between computer networks. The synergy between the towers and data centers allows for a more distributed and efficient network, crucial for expanding 5G and 4G infrastructure.
Looking ahead to 2025, Vondran said he is excited about collaborating with customers to extend 5G into rural areas and densify networks in urban regions, ensuring widespread connectivity and enhanced user experiences globally.