Rapid changes in the development of technology with the invention of cell phones have taken place over the last decade. The face of communication has totally changed and communicating anywhere, anytime has become a way of life. Thanks to cell phones and cell towers this rapid development wouldnt have occurred at all.
Wireless networks have grown globally and so have new cell sites and towers sprouted in every available space. These towers are the backbone for all cellular networks and constructing them or placing them in strategic places is a challenge for all cellular companies.
Earlier when the cell phone was still taking its infant steps in the market, there was a mad rush by companies to get the best prime land available for setting up their towers. This led to discriminate use of land that was 'considered' to be prime or the most strategically placed one. There was fierce competition to acquire the best land and the most benign landlord! Companies were after landowners, enticing them with lucrative rates to part with their lands at any cost. Either land was leased out to these companies or sold to them.
But as time progressed and technology developed and improved, the 1st generation or 2nd generation phones went in for a rampant change and development. With that the need for higher altitude based antenna phones decreased. Upgraded technology, modernised development of phones, need for antennas and towers on vantage points decreased.
Much of the preferred locations for setting up cell towers now concentrated on sites that were closer to ground allowing greater bandwidths. This simply translated to cell phone users having more tower locations with the usage of multiple services. And the so-called strategy of placement of towers simply metamorphed from best location to multiple location technology.
While all this has benefitted the users of wireless phones, the landowners faced the crunch in decreasing
cell tower lease rates everywhere. This time around it was the landowners who advertised their 'prime property' and have taken recourse to attracting companies with decreased lease prices. While some realising the need of the hour, have cleverly changed their strategies to long term leasing. This kind of long-term arrangement is often considered to be 'liquid money'. Such are the dramatic ways of capitalism and modernisation.
