Crown Castle International Corp., incorporated on May 27, 2014, is a real estate investment trust (REIT), which owns, operates and leases shared wireless infrastructure that is geographically dispersed throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The Company's segments include towers and small cells. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately 40,000 towers and other structures, such as rooftops (collectively towers) and approximately 26,500 route miles of fiber (collectively small cells, and together with towers, wireless infrastructure). The towers segment provides access, including space or capacity to its towers, which are geographically dispersed throughout the United States. The towers segment also reflects certain network services relating to its towers, consisting of site development services and installation services. As of December 31, 2016, the small cells segment provided access, including space or capacity, to the Company's approximately 17,000 route miles of fiber primarily supporting small cell networks. The small cells segment also offers fiber-based solutions.
The Company offers certain network services relating to its wireless infrastructure, consisting of site development services relating to existing or new tenant equipment installations on its wireless infrastructure, including site acquisition, architectural and engineering, or zoning and permitting (collectively site development services), and tenant equipment installation or subsequent augmentations (installation services). The Company provides access to wireless carriers under long-term leases for their antennas, which transmit a range of signals related to wireless connectivity. Its small cells are typically located outdoors.
The Company competes with American Tower Corporation and SBA Communications Corporation.
