As technology advances, mobile phones get smarter and, naturally, users increasingly rely on their mobile devices for work and play. A recent survey by Yahoo-owned analytics company Flurry revealed that overall app usage on mobile devices rose 58 percent this past year.
After tracking 3.2 trillion sessions over the course of 2015, Flurry determined that the most significant factor in the increase was so-called “personalization” apps, which allow individuals to customize their devices and correspondence with features like lockscreens and Emoji keyboards. Such apps had an astonishing 344 percent growth last year. News and magazine apps saw a 141 percent jump, signifying a considerable shift in media consumption away from television, radio, and PCs to smartphones and other mobile devices. Productivity app sessions grew by 119 percent with teens and college students in particular accessing apps such as Google Dogs, Quip, Slack, and the Microsoft productivity suite. Shopping and lifestyle apps grew by 80 percent, which is an indication of ecommerce going mobile.
Approximately 3.5 billion of the planet’s 7 billion people own a smartphone, and their habits are becoming progressively demanding. With global app usage skyrocketing, the need for cell towers is also on the rise. The location doesn’t matter—even on rural road trip pit stops or remote hiking trails— consumers have come to expect uninterrupted access and, therefore, wireless coverage must be dense and reliable. This expectation requires wireless carriers to deploy more and more cell towers to ensure continuous coverage. For landlords with desirable property, this news is great news.
If you’ve been approached by a wireless carrier or tower company about putting a cell tower on your land, know that you have more power than you may think. Don’t be intimidated by fancy jargon and complicated lease proposals because when it comes down to it they need you. Best believe that the site acquisition agent has done their homework in advance. They have reviewed the area and selected the site that will best fit their objectives. They know if your site will work under federal and local zoning regulations. They have evaluated how easy the site will be to construct. They have done a competitive analysis of the area to ascertain which properties meet their needs. Bottom line: Their research has led them to select your property. But, of course, they’re not going to tell you why. In fact, they are likely to try to bluff you into thinking that your location is just one in a long line of viable options, and if you don’t jump at their proposal, then someone will. Don’t allow yourself to be bullied.
Your site was selected for a reason, a well-researched and thoroughly examined reason. If it is indeed preferable to the wireless carrier or tower company, then they are almost certainly willing to pay more for it than they initially let on. How much more? The answer to this question depends on a variety of considerations, such as topography, difficulty of zoning, constructability, access to power and telephone company service, proximity to other cell sites. Cell tower lease rates are not one-size-fits-all, and that is precisely why landlords reach out to The Filo Group for assistance with evaluating and negotiating their leases. Our experts will work with you to systematically review the lease, explain wireless industry dynamics that come into play, provide fair market valuation, and recommend a strategy to ensure that the transaction positions you most favorably now and in the future.
Whatever level of support you need—whether you want advice on one aspect of your lease or are looking for an agent to broker the full transaction on your behalf—we’re here for you. To contact The Filo Group, please call 310-953-9850 or email info@thefilogroup.com.
