Fiber infrastructure is a key tool in attracting new and expanding existing businesses across Alabama, and local providers are actively working to install innovative broadband technologies in both the rural and urban areas of the state.
Last week, AT&T Alabama announced that it has invested more than $1.2 billion in 2015, 2016, and 2017 in its wireless and wired networks to improve reliability, coverage, speed, and overall performance for residential and business consumers.
Gov. Kay Ivey praised AT&T Alabama’s announcement.
“By continuing to build state-of-the-art infrastructure in our state, AT&T is making business growth possible and assuring that our residents, both rural and urban, have the tools to stay connected,” she said. “Announcements like AT&T’s confirm Alabama is indeed open for business.”
AT&T Alabama President Wayne Hutchens lauded the pro-business climate under Gov. Ivey’s administration.
“Governor Ivey and legislative leaders have worked hard to create an environment that welcomes investment and innovation, and the significant investments AT&T is making, combined with the presence of more than 4,800 AT&T employees who call Alabama home, is evidence that the decisions being made by our elected leaders are strengthening Alabama’s economy,” Hutchens explained.
In 2017 alone, AT&T Alabama made hundreds of wireless network upgrades in the state, including the construction and activation of 11 new cell sites. Notable Alabama network enhancements in 2017 included more than 630 LTE capacity adds to over 500 of the state’s cell sites.
AT&T is building out its 4G LTE network, laying the foundation for 5G (the next advance in network technology), while boosting network speeds and capacity as the company expands the availability of its network using the latest innovations.
A little more than a year ago, Alabama’s governor along with the heads of the other 49 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., joined AT&T to strengthen and modernize public safety’s communications capabilities with FirstNet.
FirstNet is a new nationwide communications platform dedicated to America’s public safety community. In Alabama, FirstNet builds on AT&T’s current and planned investments to help ensure public safety networks can deliver coverage and cutting-edge capabilities that first responders expect.
AT&T Alabama provides ultra-fast Internet service powered by AT&T Fiber to more than 225,000 customer locations in the Alabama area. AT&T has the largest fiber network within its 21-state wireline footprint and is the largest U.S.-based provider of fiber for business services, serving businesses of all sizes.
Per AT&T, Fixed Wireless Internet4 for rural and underserved locations is available in all or parts of Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Cullman, Elmore, Escambia, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Morgan, Russell, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
