AT&T has taken a giant leap in the race to lead high-speed internet in the United States. The company has reached an impressive milestone, as it now surpasses 30 million homes and businesses connected with its fiber optic network.
This not only consolidates its position as the largest fiber internet provider in the country. Having a workforce that has the ability to install place and maintain the infrastructure makes that much easier. Many companies rely on contractors to do the work, many who hire cheap labor or sub contract to other smaller operators that use immigrant labor which is short demand. It also leaves its main rivals, Verizon and T-Mobile, with few options other than to applaud this achievement.
This progress is no coincidence. AT&T has been investing consistently and aggressively to expand its network. In recent years, it has allocated more than $145 billion to improve its infrastructure, both in mobile networks and fiber optics.
These investments include everything from spectrum purchases to technological modernization and strategic agreements to expand its coverage. One of the most notable moves was the acquisition of a large part of Lumen’s fiber business. This allowed it to add nearly one million new customers and more than four million connection points in 11 states.