AT&T invests more than $525M to boost networks in Arizona

AT&T invested more than $525 million in its Arizona wireless and wired networks during 2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses. The company 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 first quarter 2019 results from tests taken with Speedtest® and analyzed by Ookla®.²  

In 2018, AT&T made 540 wireless network upgrades in Arizona. These upgrades included adding new cell sites, boosting network capacity and expanding LTE coverage. AT&T will continue its investment in Arizona with additional upgrades.

“In 2017, Arizona enacted legislation that encourages companies to invest more in wireless infrastructure. This has helped us dedicate millions of dollars to building out Arizona’s mobile network,” said Toni Morales Broberg, president of AT&T Arizona. “We’re working collaboratively with cities to help provide residents access to the latest wireless technologies.”

Additionally, for the 5th consecutive year AT&T landed on Fortune magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired” companies. It’s also the 6th year in a row its 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 AT&T’s current and planned investments in Phoenix, it continues to extend the reach and increase the capacity of the FirstNet communications platform:

• Phoenix 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.

In addition to its network investment, AT&T recently announced a new initiative, called Believe Phoenix℠, to address hunger and food insecurity issues in the Greater Phoenix area. AT&T invested close to $300,000 in contributions to local nonprofit organizations to fund and expand their hunger and food insecurity outreach programs. It’s also matching employees with volunteer opportunities on an ongoing basis. For more information, visit the Believe Phoenix website.

To learn more about our wireless coverage in Phoenix or anywhere in the U.S., go to the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, go to the AT&T network news page.