At the start of 2025, we shared a forward-looking view of the wireless industry through Jennifer Fritzsche’s Crystal Ball, highlighting potential shifts in spectrum policy, infrastructure investment, carrier behavior, and emerging technologies. As the year comes to a close, it is worth stepping back to see which predictions came into focus, which trends are still unfolding, and which remain ahead.

The short answer is that the crystal ball was directionally right. The industry moved with purpose throughout the year.

What Came into Clear Focus in 2025

Several of the biggest themes outlined earlier this year moved from prediction to reality.

Spectrum policy stayed front and center.
The FCC remained active in spectrum discussions throughout 2025, with an emphasis on enabling more efficient use of existing airwaves and supporting deployment flexibility. The focus shifted toward policy, access, and optimization, reinforcing the idea that spectrum strategy is now as much regulatory as technical.

AWS and shared spectrum continued to matter.
AWS and CBRS spectrum remained core industry topics. While major changes did not resolve long standing challenges, these bands continued to anchor conversations around capacity, enterprise use cases, and shared spectrum models.

Dish reshaped the competitive spectrum landscape.
A major Dish spectrum sale altered competitive dynamics and validated earlier speculation that Dish’s spectrum portfolio would play a meaningful role through deployment, partnerships, or divestiture. The ripple effects of that transaction are likely to extend into 2026.

The tower market recalibrated.
Crown Castle’s divestiture of its fiber and small cell businesses marked a defining moment for infrastructure strategy. By refocusing on core tower assets, the company helped redraw the lines between towers, fiber, and small cells, and signaled a broader reassessment of asset specialization and capital allocation.

Carrier financial discipline took priority.
Carriers focused on efficiency, targeted investment, and balance sheet management. Rather than broad expansion, 2025 reflected deliberate decision making that positioned carriers to invest where returns were clearest while maintaining tighter control over debt.

Trends Still Taking Shape

Some of the most important developments from the Crystal Ball progressed steadily throughout the year.

Spectrum efficiency over spectrum acquisition.
The industry continued its shift toward maximizing existing spectrum holdings. Network optimization, reuse, and smarter deployment strategies gained traction and now appear embedded in long term planning.

Fixed wireless gained ground, especially in rural areas.
Fixed wireless broadband expanded, particularly in regions where fiber deployment remains slow or cost prohibitive. It strengthened its position as a practical connectivity option for underserved communities.

Edge computing became part of everyday conversation.
Edge computing grew as a mainstream topic. Towers, data centers, and cloud strategies are now discussed together, reflecting a shift in how network assets are viewed and valued.

What Has Yet to Fully Emerge

A few predictions remain unresolved as the industry heads into 2026.

Large scale small cell expansion led by Boost Mobile has yet to appear publicly in a significant way. Interest in densification remains strong, though the anticipated acceleration has not clearly surfaced.

A defined BEAD pivot toward fixed wireless has also yet to be established. While fixed wireless continues to play a role in broadband discussions, a nationwide redirection of BEAD funding has not been formalized.

The Takeaway

Looking back, 2025 was a year of alignment.

Carrier strategies, regulatory focus, and infrastructure investment moved in consistent directions centered on efficiency, optimization, and convergence. Many of the shifts outlined in the Crystal Ball began to take root.

As 2026 approaches, key questions come into focus. Will financial discipline lead to renewed build cycles. Will spectrum efficiency delay the next auction or accelerate demand for one. And will towers, fiber, and edge infrastructure continue to converge in meaningful ways.

The industry remains in motion, and those tracking the signals will be well positioned for what comes next.