TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- At
AT&T1, we've invested more than $725 million in our Kansas wireless and wired networks during
2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and
overall performance for residents and businesses. We've also
improved critical services that support Public Safety and first
responders using the FirstNet communications platform.
AT&T's wireless network covers more than 99% of all
Americans and has become the fastest wireless network in the
nation, according to the third quarter 2019 results from tests
taken with Speedtest® and analyzed by
Ookla®.2
In 2018, AT&T made 302 wireless network upgrades in
Kansas. We added new cell sites,
addition of network capacity and new wireless high-speed Internet
connections. By building out our 4G LTE network, we're boosting
network speeds and capacity, as we continue to expand the
availability of our network and upgrade our technology.
"Connectivity is a cornerstone of economic progress in
Kansas," said Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas
Chamber. "Ongoing investments like those made by AT&T are
critical to our state's business infrastructure and ensure
residents, businesses, first responders and visitors have the
high-speed connections they need, when they need them."
"We're always looking for new opportunities to enhance coverage
for our customers and FirstNet subscribers," said Molly Kocour Boyle, Regional Vice President –
External Affairs, AT&T Kansas. "And our investment in
Kansas is another example of how
AT&T is investing in local communities to help keep customers
connected when and where they need it most."
Additionally, for the 5th consecutive year we've landed
on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most
Admired" companies. It's also the 6th year in a row we've appeared
on the Global Top 50 list – no other telecom company made the Top
50.
Transforming Public Safety Communications
FirstNet is Public Safety's dedicated, nationwide communications
platform. It is for all first responders – career and volunteer,
urban or rural. It's bringing public safety communications into the
21st century with new, innovative capabilities, helping first
responders connect to the critical information they need – every
day and in every emergency.
Building upon our current and planned investments in
Kansas, we continue to extend the
reach and increase the capacity of the FirstNet communications
platform:
- Deployed Band 14 spectrum in more than 600 markets nationwide,
including Brown, Hodgeman, Lawrence, Topeka, Trego
and Wichita. Band 14 is
high-quality spectrum provided by the First Responder Network
Authority. Its signal covers larger geographic areas with less
infrastructure to better support rural communities, and it can
better reach in-building in more urban areas as compared to
higher-MHz spectrum.
- Kansas first responders enjoy
the fastest overall experience on FirstNet, compared to any
commercial network in the nation, thanks to the specialized
capabilities enabled by the physically separate and dedicated
FirstNet network core, like always-on priority and
preemption.3
- Public safety agencies subscribed to FirstNet have 24/7 access
to a nationwide fleet of 75 deployable network assets. These assets
can either be deployed for planned events or called upon in
emergencies to help first responders stay connected and operate
faster, safer and more effectively when lives are on the line.
FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership
with the First Responder Network Authority – an independent agency
within the federal government. This helps ensure that the FirstNet
communications platform and service offerings meet the short- and
long-term needs of the public safety community.
Our internet offerings
We now market a 1
gigabit connection4 on our 100%
fiber network to more than 12 million locations
across 85 major metro areas nationwide. In the Kansas area, we market our internet service
powered by AT&T Fiber to nearly 150,000 customer locations.
We plan to reach about 14 million locations across at least 85
metro areas by mid-2019 for consumers.
We are the largest U.S.-based provider of fiber for business
services. There are over 500,000 U.S. business buildings lit with
AT&T fiber, and we're adding thousands more each month.
Within those buildings, AT&T now enables high-speed fiber
connections to over 2.2 million U.S. business customer locations.
And if you count businesses near our fiber network, that number
quadruples. Nationwide, more than 8 million business customer
locations are on or within 1,000 feet of our fiber.5
To learn more about our wireless coverage in Kansas, or anywhere in the U.S., visit the
AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless
network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
1 AT&T products and
services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of
AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T
Inc.
2 Based on analysis by
Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data
average download speeds for Q1 2019. Ookla trademarks used under
license and reprinted with permission.
3 Based on AT&T analysis of
Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® nationwide
data average download speeds for Q1 2019. Ookla trademarks used
under license and reprinted with permission.
4 Actual customer speeds may vary. Download
speeds are typically up to 940Mbps due to overhead capacity
reserved to deliver the data.
5 The over 2.2 million U.S. business customer
locations, which AT&T provides high-speed fiber connections, is
included within the 8M U.S. business
customer locations on or within 1,000 feet of our fiber.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial
estimates and other forward- looking statements that are subject to
risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially.
A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained
in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements
contained in this news release based on new information or
otherwise.
*About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways
every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video
streaming, we innovate to improve lives. We have the nation's
fastest wireless network.** And according to America's biggest
test, we have the nation's best wireless network.*** We're building
FirstNet just for first responders and creating
next-generation mobile 5G. With a range of TV and video products,
we deliver entertainment people love to talk about. Our smart,
highly secure solutions serve nearly 3 million global businesses –
nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And worldwide, our spirit of
service drives employees to give back to their communities.
AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Learn
more at att.com/CommunicationsNews.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about
AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com.
Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at
facebook.com/att and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.
© 2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
**Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest
Intelligence® data average download speeds for Q3 2019.
Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with
permission.
***GWS OneScore, September 2019.
FirstNet® and the FirstNet logo are registered
trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority.
To define a market, we rely on the Core Based Statistical Areas
(CBSA), as established by the United States Office of Management
and Budget. Minor differences, if any, between annual totals
reflect annual updating of market boundaries in our record
systems.
From FORTUNE Magazine. 2019 Time Inc. FORTUNE© and The World's
Most Admired Companies® are registered trademarks of
Time Inc. and are used under License. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not
affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of,
AT&T.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.