en.Wedoany.com Reported - AT&T has pledged to invest $19 billion in California by the end of 2030 to expand fiber and wireless network infrastructure, providing high-speed connectivity for the next phase of innovation and economic growth in the region.
The company stated that this investment represents the largest infrastructure commitment in its history in California. The five-year investment from 2026 to 2030 is $3 billion higher than the period from 2021 to 2025, bringing the total network investment in California over the decade from 2021 to 2030 to $35 billion.
AT&T said the investment will be used to provide affordable access services and strengthen partnerships with local organizations focused on bridging the digital divide. As part of the network upgrade, the company plans to initiate the migration of customers to fiber and wireless services. Starting June 1, 2027, it will phase out inefficient copper wire services, including traditional telephone services, in parts of California. Currently, only 3% of California households served by AT&T still use traditional telephone services. The company stated it will adopt a phased, one-year approach to complete customer upgrades and reallocate resources to more modern services.
AT&T's technology upgrade plan includes: expanding fiber to an additional more than 4 million homes and businesses in the state by the end of 2030, reaching 9 million fiber locations with the most advanced technology; and strengthening wireless network coverage by increasing spectrum and adding over 1,200 cell sites (covering rural, suburban, and urban communities) by the end of 2030. The company stated that fiber and wireless networks offer advantages in recovery speed and support for emergency communications and modernized 911 services, and strengthening wireless coverage will also enhance FirstNet, the public safety network built by AT&T. It is expected that by 2030, this network transformation will save 300 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing a more energy-efficient network for California. The avoided emissions are equivalent to those generated by using 17 million gallons of gasoline.
Regarding customer transition, AT&T said it will ensure that customers do not lose voice or 911 services. The company has introduced modern products such as AT&T Phone – Advanced and AT&T Business Voice to replace traditional home and business telephone services. These products use the latest reliable technology and come with backup batteries, allowing customers to keep their existing phone numbers and remain compatible with current phones, fax machines, home alarm systems, and medical monitoring devices. The company will offer California customers additional discounts and options to facilitate upgrades, provide three months of free AT&T Phone – Advanced service for traditional home phone customers, and offer additional discounts for existing LifeLine customers.
AT&T stated that this investment will also support job opportunities and long-term workforce continuity within the state. The company is hiring hundreds of technicians to support fiber expansion and copper retirement, as well as to deploy future technologies. Susan Santana, President of AT&T California, said that leveraging recent federal network modernization policies, the company is making the largest investment commitment in its history in California to expand future-proof fiber and wireless services at affordable prices and modernize the copper network. She also noted that by investing in newer, more reliable technologies, AT&T can provide better services, reach more customers, and support the long-term development of California's economy.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
