The South Wireless Association’s sixth annual South Wireless Summit this week was the hottest ticket in Nashville. More than 600 attendees jammed the Sheraton Music City Hotel to hear a Who’s Who in the world of wireless and tower speakers, all-star panel discussions and exhibitions from the industry’s largest companies over the three-day event sponsored by 13 different companies, with Crown Castle being the lead sponsor.
On Monday, attendants streamed through the exhibit hall, which featured nearly 30 booths inhabited by tower developers to general contractors to equipment manufacturers. Exhibitors included Sabre Industries, Capital Tower, Cell Blocks, B+T Group and a litany of other industry players.
On Tuesday, Vertical Bridge CEO Alex Gellman delivered the summit’s first keynote address. Following Gellman’s speech, there was a segment discussing recent updates to the FCC regulatory code, which was followed by a DAS presentation delivered by Paula Doublin, the Assistant VP Antenna Solutions Construction, Engineering and Project Management for AT&T.
Also on Tuesday, Wells Fargo senior analyst Jennifer Fritzsche moderated a panel discussion focusing on an array of industry issues—including the small cell sector, the deployment of 5G technology, and the capital expenditures of major carriers.
Fritzsche’s panel featured movers and shakers in TowerLand — Danny Agresta, president and CEO of APC Towers, Ron Bizick, the CEO of the tower development company Tarpon Towers; Dale Carey, the COO of tower developer Eco-Site, John Stevens, president of the technical solutions company Infinigy; and Jason Nicolay, the Vice President of the investment firm MVP Telecom Group. All agreed it was a relatively slow time for tower developers but some carriers – Verizon for one — are currently more focused on small cell deployment than macro cells. However, the panel also expressed concern regarding the economics of small cells. There was unanimity that macro cells still are much a better investment.
CTIA President and former FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein delivered the summit’s second keynote address on Wednesday morning. NATE CEO Todd Schlekeway spoke after Adelstein, and focused on NATE’s new initiatives to increase safety in the industry.
Wednesday also featured a discussion on the bourgeoning technology of the small cell sector, as well as an update on the development of 5G technology. James Brunson of Alcatel-Lucent and Jake MacLeod of Greybeards gave major addresses.
Of course, attendees found some time for fun in the Music City as the summit featured a clay shooting event at the Nashville Gun Club on Tuesday afternoon, which was followed by a reception at the local bar and restaurant Acme Feed & Seed. They chatted with one another and enjoyed cocktails atop the restaurant rooftop, as they took in a picturesque view of the Cumberland River in one direction with the Nashville skyline in the other.
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