AT&T has invested more than $2.4 billion to upgrade its network across Michigan since 2019 to expand wireless connectivity, increase access to high-speed broadband, and enhance the first FirstNet responder’s network.
“AT&T Michigan is connecting first responders in 360 communities and has rolled out Band 14 on 1,700 sites across the state, providing public safety with truly dedicated network coverage vital to emergency response efforts,” says David Lewis, president of AT&T Michigan.
“As America’s public safety communication partner, we are expanding and enhancing FirstNet to give the public safety community better access to their network. Setting the stage for first responder innovation over the next 10 years, the FirstNet Authority announced a series of strategic investments totaling more than $8 billion into FirstNet.”
The latest network investment should enable AT&T to deliver a standalone FirstNet 5G core, provide always-on priority and preemption across all AT&T 5G commercial spectrum bands, and build 1,000 new FirstNet sites in Michigan and across the country over the next two years.
In Michigan, AT&T is connecting public safety agencies and organizations in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, Farmington, Grand Rapids, Holland, Iron Mountain, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, Portage, Saint Clair, and Traverse City.
The company also rolled out Band 14 on more than 1,700 sites across Michigan to provide public safety with dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it.
Cities and communities seeing the impacts of this investment include:
- Metro Detroit, more than $1 billion.
- Grand Rapids, more than $250 million.
- Lansing, nearly $100 million.
- Flint, nearly $45 million.
- Saginaw, nearly $25 million.
“We understand how a connection can make the difference,” says Lewis. “That’s why our mission is to bring connectivity to everyone, no matter where they live or where they come from. We’re working to not only boost network reliability and capacity but also expand broadband nationwide to help bridge the digital divide.”
Other investment highlights include:
- Expanding Access to Fiber: With nearly 3 million strand miles of fiber in Michigan, AT&T Fiber is now available to more than 700,000 customer locations across the state.
- Increased 5G performance: We’re ramping up performance in high-traffic areas, like airports, stadiums, and venues.
- Helping bridge the digital divide: We’re working toward our digital divide commitment by investing in local communities. Since 2021, we’ve opened two AT&T Connected Learning Centers in Detroit, along with Human I-T we donated 100 laptops to Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan in Saginaw, and more around the state.
To help bridge the digital divide in Detroit, AT&T has opened two AT&T Connected Learning Centers in the city inside SER-Metro Detroit and Jefferson East Inc. The centers provide students and families with access to AT&T fiber internet, Wi-Fi, computers, and free education resources.
