Texas-based AT&T Thursday reported it invested nearly $1.4 billion in Michigan wireless and wired networks from 2016-2018. The company’s network covers more than 99 percent of Americans and more than 400 million people in North America.
“We’re investing in our network to make business growth possible, keep Michigan competitive, and provide our residents and visitors with the tools to stay connected and entertained,” says David Lewis, president of AT&T Michigan.
In 2018, the company made more than 1,100 wireless upgrades in Michigan, including new cell sites, addition of network capacity, and wireless high-speed internet connections.
“All Michiganders rely on telecommunications services in their daily lives,” says state Sen. Dan Lauwers (R), chair of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee. “The continued investment to strengthen Michigan’s high-tech infrastructure demonstrates AT&T’s commitment to our state and to residents and businesses both in our urban centers and rural communities.”
The company also has provided services that support public safety and first responders through the FirstNet communications platform. It deployed Band 14 spectrum in more than 600 markets nationwide, including Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. Band 14 is a high-quality spectrum provided by the First Responder Network Authority. It covers larger geographic areas with less infrastructure to better support rural communities and can better reach in-building in more urban areas.
The specialized capabilities enabled by the physically separate and dedicated network core allow Michigan first responders the fastest overall experience compared to any commercial network in the nation.
Public safety agencies subscribed to FirstNet have 24/7 access to a nationwide fleet of 75 deployable network assets. These assets can either be deployed for planned events or called upon in emergencies.
FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government. This helps ensure that the communications platform and service offerings meet the short- and long-term needs of the public safety community.
AT&T now markets a one-gigabit connection on its 100 percent fiber network to more than 12 million locations across 85 major metro areas. The company plans to reach at least 14 million locations across 85 metro areas by mid-2019. There are more than 500,000 U.S. business buildings that use AT&T fiber.
