Over the past year, AT&T significantly expanded its footprint in the Yellowhammer State. The telecommunications company completed more than 550 network improvement projects in Alabama and added over 130 macro and small cell sites.
According to the company, AT&T Fiber is now available at more than 40,000 new locations in the state. Additionally, over 475,000 customer locations across Alabama have access to AT&T Fiber.
In December 2021, Redstone Arsenal announced that it would utilize AT&T’s FirstNet high-speed public safety network to enhance first responder communications infrastructure.
AT&T advised in a release that the new wireless sites will improve coverage and capacity in the following 27 counties: Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Calhoun, Clarke, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Hale, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lee, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Mobile, Monroe, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston Counties.
Additionally, the company launched more than 90 small cell sites in Baldwin, Calhoun, Jefferson, Madison, Mobile, Shelby and Tuscaloosa Counties.
In a statement commending AT&T for its expanding Alabama footprint, Gov. Kay Ivey asserted that the company’s investments were “critical” for industry and consumers alike.
“These investments are critical for businesses and residents in communities across the state,” stated Ivey. “Today connectivity is critical in our everyday lives, particularly in areas such as health care, education and business. I applaud AT&T’s work to expand access to these increased speeds in the home and enhance their wireless network.”
In addition to the new locations being served by the telecommunications giant, over 540 sites saw capacity, speed and capability enhancements.
AT&T Alabama president Wayne Hutchens spoke to the company’s presence in the state and conveyed intentions to continue working toward closing the “digital divide.”
“We have been investing in Alabama for more than 140 years, bringing critical connectivity to communities across the state,” said Hutchens. “More than 3,200 AT&T employees call Alabama home, and as public policy leaders have created an environment that encourages investment in new and emerging technology, we remain committed to investing in this state and helping close the digital divide.”
From 2018 to 2020, AT&T invested nearly $1.5 billion in wireless and wireline networks in an effort to boost reliability, coverage, speed and performance across Alabama.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.