AT&T plans $250bn upgrade to US networks

AT&T says it will spend more than $250 billion to expand and strengthen its US networks, betting on a favorable tax and regulatory climate. The company plans to push more fiber, 5G home internet, wireless and satellite coverage into urban, suburban and rural areas, in part through its satellite partnership with AST SpaceMobile. It will also put more money into FirstNet, the dedicated network for first responders, and upgrade core infrastructure with a focus on resilience and security.

The telecoms group, which employs about 110,000 people in the US, says the investment will also go into its workforce. AT&T expects to hire thousands of technicians in 2026 and emphasizes that only a small share of its roles require a four-year degree. The company highlights spending on training, including AI skills, and on network security and AI-driven threat detection. AT&T frames the plan as a long-term effort to support data-heavy services such as AI, remote healthcare and autonomous technologies by keeping more homes and businesses connected via fiber, wireless and satellite.