AT&T announced that it is investing more than $250 billion in the future of U.S. advanced connectivity to build “high-speed networks and resilience required for the next era of innovation and economic growth.”

As the company celebrates the 150-year legacy of founder Alexander Graham Bell’s first phone call on March 10, 1876, AT&T said it aims to take the lead in driving America’s connected economy so every community, family, and business can participate in future American progress.

“Today, we’re committing more than $250 billion to increase U.S. connectivity competitiveness and expand access to AT&T’s leading fiber and wireless networks—the best way to get on the internet,” John Stankey, Chairman and CEO of AT&T, said in a statement. “Current Federal telecommunications policy is as strong as I’ve seen in my career, making our commitment to invest possible. We look forward to serving American communities and businesses for the next 150 years.”

The company said it offers the nation’s largest converged network of fiber internet and 5G wireless services, connecting people at home, at work, and on the go.

The next phase of investment and long-term operating commitment builds on that foundation through three strategic areas: deploying always-on connectivity, investing in the workforce, and innovating to secure and advance America’s connected economy. The company said that the current tax and regulatory environment are the most conducive to such investment in decades.

Delivering always-on connectivity

Providing networks with reliable, always-on connectivity are crucial in making Ai, autonomous technologies, cloud computing, and data-heavy digital services possible, the company said. AT&T’s investment will expand future-ready fiber and wireless services, modernize crucial infrastructure, and bolster network resilience and security to support communities and the economy for decades to come, including:

• Accelerating the deployment of fiber, 5G home internet, wireless and satellite across urban, suburban, and rural America
• AT&T’s satellite collaboration with AST SpaceMobile will extend coverage into remote areas
• Strengthening FirstNet—the nation’s first and only network built by AT&T with and for first responders—and modernizing vital infrastructure for public safety and resilience
• AT&T Dynamic Defense to offer what the company said is the only network connectivity with comprehensive built-in security controls
• Laying the groundwork for the next wave of American technological advances through smart infrastructure and network optimization
• AT&T’s Wi-Fi Personalization to provide a tailored home experience to match customers’ daily habits
• AT&T Turbo Live to allow customers to boost their data experience at live events to get the reliable connection they want, even in crowded venues.

Investing in the workforce

The company said that boosting the nation’s connectivity requires dedicated, highly trained people. With approximately 110,000 U.S. employees today, AT&T will continue investing in America’s workforce, including supporting the largest unionized workforce in the U.S. telecom industry, with a focus on training and development.

Investing in education through connectivity also strengthens communities. With workers training locally, communities retain talent, families gain stability, and local economies grow stronger, the company said. The focus is on crucial roles that keep networks running, such as technicians, engineers, and customer-facing experts who will remain essential as technology evolves.

According to AT&T, focus areas include recruiting and training more skilled technicians that are needed to build and maintain essential telecommunications infrastructure. It plans to hire thousands of technicians in 2026 alone, with only 5% of jobs at AT&T require a four-year degree

AT&T will also invest in training, upskilling, and career pathways to keep roles current as tools and technology change—including AI fluency. And it said it will provide competitive wages, employee benefits, and exceptional wellness programs to support long-term financial security.

Innovating to secure and advance America’s connected economy

The company said that as connectivity becomes more essential, trust, security, and continued American leadership in innovation need to flourish.

AT&T said it will continue to invest in technologies that advance and protect the connected economy, including scaling network security and AI-driven threat intelligence and enabling the next wave of American invention across industries by opening up our network to allow new entrants to innovate and supply telecommunications equipment.

It will also strengthen collaboration with public-sector partners to support national resilience and first responders, and support America’s leadership in global technology and innovation.

With this investment, AT&T said it plans to continue building its national network, whether delivered by fiber, wireless, or satellite, so more people and businesses have fast, reliable Internet access. Connectivity is “the foundation for what’s next, from remote care, to autonomous vehicles to AI,” the company said.

Relocating HQ from downtown Dallas to Plano

In January, AT&T announced plans to relocate its global headquarters from downtown Dallas to a 54-acre site in Plano. The move is still years away, since the company will be building its new HQ campus at the site, located at 5400 Legacy Drive in Plano. According to the Dallas Morning News, CEO John Stankey is aiming for partial occupancy at the new headquarters “as early as the second half of 2028.”

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