Specifically, the company says that it spent more than $475 million in the Charlotte area; more than $200 million in the Triad region and a further $525 million in the Triangle region. During this time AT&T says it made more than 2,100 wireless network upgrades in the state including 13 new sites, plus carrier additions and bandwidth expansions.
"We are investing in the advanced communications networks of the future because, today more than ever, life is about connections," said Venessa Harrison, president of AT&T North Carolina. "Businesses connect with customers and suppliers; individuals connect with each other, with their elected officials and with information. Connections drive opportunities and innovation and we are investing now to help our customers and communities lead and succeed in the future."
AT&T’s LTE network now covers more than 400 million people in North America and the company is boosting its network speeds and capacity, a move that company says lays the groundwork for the arrival of 5G.
"A strong communications infrastructure is vital for keeping North Carolina growing in a global economy," said Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina. "This kind of sustained investment gives businesses the communication tools they need to compete and succeed, connects people and communities, and also helps law enforcement and other first responders keep North Carolina safe."
In addition, AT&T says that it has the largest fibre network within its 21-state wireline footprint, including more than 3 million strand miles in North Carolina. At present, the company offers a 1-gigabit connection to 9 million locations across 71 major metro areas with a view to increasing this to 14 million locations across 84 metro areas by mid-2019.
Earlier this month, AT&T along with Telefónica came out on top as the two biggest winners in the latest Mexican spectrum auction. Both companies won frequencies in its recent 2.5GHz spectrum auction, with AT&T taking the greatest share, increasing its holdings in the country by 13%.