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Intangible Assets, Net
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]  
Intangible Assets, Net

7.INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

As of December 31, 2017

 

As of December 31, 2016



 

Gross carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net book

 

Gross carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net book



 

amount

 

amortization

 

value

 

amount

 

amortization

 

value



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(in thousands)

Current contract intangibles

 

$

 4,355,171 

 

$

 (1,673,270)

 

$

 2,681,901 

 

$

 4,141,968 

 

$

 (1,401,025)

 

$

 2,740,943 

Network location intangibles

 

 

 1,617,441 

 

 

 (701,211)

 

 

 916,230 

 

 

 1,515,348 

 

 

 (599,367)

 

 

 915,981 

Intangible assets, net

 

$

 5,972,612 

 

$

 (2,374,481)

 

$

 3,598,131 

 

$

 5,657,316 

 

$

 (2,000,392)

 

$

 3,656,924 



All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segment. The Company amortizes its intangible assets using the straight-line method over 15 years. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $384.1 million, $369.9 million, and $363.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017,  2016 and 2015, respectively.



Estimated amortization expense on the Company’s intangibles assets is as follows:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 397,596 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 397,302 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 396,445 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 363,988 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 343,536