AT&T  invested more than $550 million in its Arizona wireless and wired networks during 2015-2017.

Experts say these investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses. They also improve critical services that support public safety and first responders.

In 2017, AT&T made more than 400 wireless network upgrades in Arizona. These upgrades included adding new cell sites, boosting network capacity and expanding LTE coverage. Following the passage of recent state legislation, AT&T will continue its investment in Arizona with additional upgrades.

“Arizona has enacted legislation that encourages companies to invest more in wireless infrastructure. We’re now speeding our wireless build out plans in Arizona with tens of millions of dollars dedicated to improving its mobile network,” said Toni M. Broberg, director of external affairs, AT&T Arizona. “This investment will also pave the path to 5G mobile services in the years ahead.”

The AT&T LTE network now covers more than 400 million people in North America. By building out the 4G LTE network, AT&T is laying the foundation for 5G, the next advance in network technologies. The company is also boosting network speeds and capacity as it continues to expand the availability of its network using the latest technology.

Since the formation of the FirstNet public-private partnership a little over a year ago, governors from all 50 states, 5 territories and D.C. recognized the value of FirstNet, joining in its mission to strengthen and modernize public safety’s communications capabilities.

FirstNet is a new nationwide communications platform dedicated to America’s public safety community. As AT&T builds, deploys and evolves FirstNet, it will build upon its current and planned investments in Arizona to help ensure public safety’s network delivers the coverage and cutting-edge capabilities first responders expect – today and for decades to come.

For the 4th year in a row, AT&T earned the top spot in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE’s Most Admired Companies list in 2018. AT&T also placed No. 49 among the 50 most admired companies across all industries.