A $250 billion plan from AT&T promises to upgrade the carrier’s networks and expand its high-speed internet services to more US consumers.
On Tuesday, AT&T announced its spending $250 billion over the next five years to build out the company’s fiber service, 5G home internet and wireless networks across the US.
“We are investing at the top of our industry to deliver unmatched coverage for more than 100 million customers on the nation’s largest fiber and wireless networks,” the carrier added.
The announcement is good news for users who live in areas lacking high-speed internet access. AT&T’s plan calls for “accelerating” the deployment of fiber, 5G home internet, 5G cellular and even satellite across urban, suburban, and rural America.
The problem is AT&T hasn’t released details, including the US locations, where the company plans on spending the funding. The carrier also didn’t specify where the money is coming. But the carrier previously spent about $20 billion in capital expenditures over 2025 and about the same amount in 2024. In contrast, the $250 billion commitment can translate to $50 billion over each of the next five years.
For now, AT&T indicated the funding would go toward expansion and upgrading the company’s existing networks. In a statement, the carrier told PCMag that the project “reflects a long-term, multi-year commitment to fund and sustain network buildout and upgrades, covering the ongoing work required to expand fiber and wireless, increase capacity, and keep networks performing reliably as demand grows.”
AT&T added: “This commitment accelerates the deployment of the networking infrastructure required to support always-on data processing and provide reliable connectivity across urban, suburban and rural America. In practical terms, that means stronger connectivity that helps enable local business growth, supports remote work and learning, improves access to digital services, and strengthens public safety and community resilience.”
Despite lack of details, the Trump administration in the Commerce Department and FCC Chair Brendan Carr have been applauding the investment, saying it will “strengthen America’s connectivity and drive innovation across the economy.” AT&T also plans on hiring “thousands of technicians” this year alone.
In the meantime, Speedtest developer Ookla found that AT&T offers the top-performing fiber service, but the carrier’s mobile network has been lagging behind T-Mobile and Verizon in speeds.
AT&T is also behind on offering a satellite-to-phone service to the company’s users, giving them a way to remain connected in cellular dead zones. But the carrier has partnered and been investing in a startup called AST SpaceMobile with the aim of offering the satellite connectivity later this year.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
