AT&T Boosts 5G Capacity Nationwide with New Spectrum, Giving Customers a Stronger, Faster Connection
AT&T (NYSE:T) deployed mid-band 3.45 GHz spectrum acquired from EchoStar to nearly 23,000 cell sites in a matter of weeks, expanding capacity coast to coast in more than 5,300 cities across 48 states (excludes Alaska and Hawaii). The company said customers may see download speeds up to 80% faster for mobility and 55% faster for AT&T Internet Air. AT&T expects the integration to support growth in converged wireless + home internet subscribers and deliver long-term operating efficiencies by reducing the need for additional cell-site construction. FirstNet public-safety service also benefits from the added spectrum.
AT&T (NYSE:T) ha schierato lo spettro a banda media 3.45 GHz acquisito da EchoStar a quasi 23.000 siti cellulari in poche settimane, espandendo la capacità lungo la costa in oltre 5.300 città in 48 stati (esclusi Alaska e Hawaii). L'azienda ha detto che i clienti potrebbero vedere velocità di download fino a 80% più veloci per la mobilità e 55% più veloci per AT&T Internet Air. AT&T prevede che l'integrazione supporti la crescita di abbonati convergenti wireless + internet domestico e offra efficienze operative a lungo termine riducendo la necessità di ulteriori costruzioni di siti. Anche il servizio pubblico di sicurezza FirstNet trae beneficio dal traffico di spettro aggiuntivo.
AT&T (NYSE:T) desplegó espectro de banda media 3.45 GHz adquirido a EchoStar en casi 23,000 sitios celulares en cuestión de semanas, expandiendo la capacidad de costa a costa en más de 5,300 ciudades en 48 estados (excluye Alaska y Hawái). La empresa dijo que los clientes podrían ver velocidades de descarga de hasta 80% más rápidas para la movilidad y 55% más rápidas para AT&T Internet Air. AT&T espera que la integración apoye el crecimiento de suscriptores convergentes inalámbricos + internet en casa y aporte eficiencias operativas a largo plazo al reducir la necesidad de construir más sitios. El servicio público de seguridad FirstNet también se beneficia del espectro adicional.
AT&T (NYSE:T) EchoStar에서 인수한 중대역 3.45 GHz 주파수 대역을 수 주 만에 약 23,000 개의 셀 사이트에 도입하여 해안에서 해안까지 용량을 확장하였고 48개 주에서 5,300개 이상 도시로 확장합니다 (알래스카와 하와이 제외). 회사는 고객이 모빌리티의 다운로드 속도에서 최대 80% 빠르게, AT&T Internet Air에서 55% 빠르게 느낄 수 있다고 말했습니다. AT&T는 통합이 무선 + 가정용 인터넷 가입자의 성장 을 지원하고 추가 셀 사이트 건설 필요를 줄임으로써 장기적인 운영 효율성을 제공할 것으로 기대합니다. FirstNet 공공 안전 서비스도 추가 스펙트럼의 혜택을 받습니다.
AT&T (NYSE:T) a déployé le spectre en bande médiane 3,45 GHz acquis auprès d'EchoStar sur près de 23 000 sites cellulaires en quelques semaines, élargissant la capacité le long des côtes dans plus de 5 300 villes à travers 48 États (à l'exclusion de l'Alaska et d'Hawaï). L'entreprise a déclaré que les clients pourraient observer des vitesses de téléchargement jusqu'à 80% plus rapides pour la mobilité et 55% plus rapides pour AT&T Internet Air. AT&T s'attend à ce que l'intégration soutienne la croissance des abonnés convergents sans fil + Internet à domicile et apporte des gains d'efficacité opérationnelle à long terme en réduisant le besoin de construction de nouveaux sites. Le service d'urgence public FirstNet bénéficie également du spectre ajouté.
AT&T (NYSE:T) hat das Mid-Band-Spektrum 3,45 GHz, das von EchoStar erworben wurde, in wenigen Wochen auf fast 23.000 Mobilfunkstandorte ausgerollt und so die Kapazität landesweit in mehr als 5.300 Städten in 48 Bundesstaaten erweitert (Alaska und Hawaii ausgenommen). Das Unternehmen sagte, Kunden könnten Download-Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 80% schneller für Mobilität und 55% schneller für AT&T Internet Air sehen. AT&T erwartet, dass die Integration das Wachstum von converged Wireless + Home-Internet-Abonnements unterstützt und langfristig Betriebseffizienzen durch die Reduzierung des Bedarfs an zusätzlicher Standortkonstruktion ermöglicht. Der FirstNet-Notfalldienst profitiert ebenfalls vom zusätzlichen Spektrum.
AT&T (NYSE:T) نشر نطاق التردد في النطاق المتوسط 3.45 جيجاهرتز الذي تم الاستحواذ عليه من EchoStar على نحو يقرب من 23,000 موقع خلوي في غضون أسابيع، موسعاً القدرة من الساحل إلى الساحل في أكثر من 5,300 مدينة عبر 48 ولاية (باستثناء ألاسكا وهاواي). قالت الشركة إن العملاء قد يرون سرعات تنزيل حتى 80% أسرع للمتحرك و 55% أسرع لـ AT&T Internet Air. تتوقع AT&T أن تدعم التكامل النمو في مشتركي الاتصالات اللاسلكية + الإنترنت المنزلي وتوفر كفاءات تشغيلية طويلة الأجل من خلال تقليل حاجة بناء مواقع خلايا إضافية. خدمة FirstNet الحكومية لسلامة الجمهور تستفيد أيضاً من الطيف المُضاف.
- Deployed 3.45 GHz spectrum to ~23,000 cell sites
- Speed increases up to 80% for mobility customers
- Coverage expanded to >5,300 cities across 48 states
- Expected operating efficiencies reducing additional cell-site builds
- Spectrum integration provided via a short-term spectrum manager lease
- Deployment excludes Alaska and Hawaii
Insights
AT&T rapidly added mid-band spectrum from EchoStar, boosting capacity and targeted to accelerate converged subscriber growth.
AT&T deployed mid-band 3.45 GHz spectrum to nearly 23,000 cell sites within weeks, expanding coverage across more than 5,300 cities in 48 states and unlocking reported download speed gains up to
The business effect is straightforward: added mid-band spectrum increases network capacity and peak speed where it is live, which supports the company’s stated aim to grow its base of customers who take both home internet and 5G wireless services. The announcement links the spectrum integration to lower long‑term capital needs by reducing reliance on building new cell sites.
Key dependencies and risks center on execution and scale: the benefit accrues only where the new spectrum is active on sites and on compatible devices, and measured gains may vary by market and handset. Watch near-term deployment rollouts and any carrier metrics that quantify traffic per site and subscriber additions over the next several quarters; measurable effects should appear in operational metrics within
Rapid integration of EchoStar mid-band spectrum should materially raise capacity and user throughput where live.
Technically, adding mid-band 3.45 GHz to ~23,000 sites increases spectrum resources per cell, enabling higher aggregated throughput and improved concurrent user capacity for streaming, gaming, and AI applications. The release states uplifts of up to
Operational caveats include site-level tuning, backhaul capacity, device support, and software integration; each affects realized customer experience. Monitor metrics such as per-site throughput, peak/average download speeds in upgraded cells, and FirstNet performance data in the coming months. Expect clearer network KPIs and customer-experience telemetry within
Key Takeaways:
- AT&T has deployed mid-band spectrum1 we agreed to acquire from EchoStar, boosting 5G download speeds by up to 80 percent, coast to coast2.
- This deployment powers improved and capital-efficient long-term growth by accelerating the Company's ability to add converged subscribers with both 5G wireless and home internet services in more places.
- This spectrum integration strengthens AT&T's best overall wireless network3.
- Both mobility and AT&T Internet Air customers will enjoy an enhanced experience.
AT&T isn't just turning on new spectrum. We've hit the 5G accelerator and deployed mid-band (3.45 GHz) spectrum from EchoStar to nearly 23,000 cell sites in a matter of a few weeks, which is record fast. This new spectrum makes America's best overall network3 even better by unlocking substantial increases in speed and capacity for customers in more than 5,300 cities across 48 states2.
By accelerating and expanding the Company's opportunity to offer advanced connectivity across the country, AT&T expects this transaction to support strong and sustained growth in its high-value base of converged customers that subscribe to both its home internet and 5G wireless services. In addition, AT&T expects to achieve long-term operating efficiencies as the acquisition of these licenses will reduce the need to boost network capacity through the capital-intensive construction of additional cell sites.
With this spectrum now integrated into what was already the most reliable3 and largest wireless network in
"We've put EchoStar spectrum to work on our network and customers are already feeling the difference," said Jeff McElfresh, chief operating officer, AT&T. "This gives us the runway to expand availability of AT&T Internet Air for consumers and businesses and add even more download speed to our 5G service. We're setting the bar for what it means to be the best advanced networking company in America."
As AT&T lights up new spectrum, customers can expect:
- More capacity for streaming, gaming, and AI-powered applications.
- Continued expansion of home internet options backed by the same reliable network.
- And continued delivery of our AT&T Guarantee, providing fast, reliable connectivity from the only provider to offer a guarantee that includes both wireless and fiber networks.
This newly added spectrum strengthens our leadership in high-performance connectivity across 5G and fiber. Having the fastest and most reliable wireless network3 — alongside our nationwide 5G standalone rollout as we move customers daily to the 5G core — underscores our commitment to innovation. Combined with progress in Open RAN, these efforts solidify our competitive standing in
Over the past 5 years, we have invested more capital than any other company in
"We've been investing in our network for decades, and this deployment is another proof point of how we're delivering the best combination of wireless and broadband connectivity in America," said McElfresh.
Deploying this spectrum also enhances first responders' 5G experience on FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, the only network built with and for public safety. FirstNet is an all-band solution – that means first responders have always-on priority and preemption not only on public safety's Band 14 spectrum, but across all of AT&T's commercial spectrum bands too. It's all part of why more first responders choose FirstNet to reliably communicate than any other network.
We're fulfilling our mission to connect people to greater possibilities everywhere they live, work, and play.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
1 Pursuant to a short-term spectrum manager lease
2 Excludes
3 Based on RootMetrics® United States RootScore® Report: 1H 2025. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. RootMetrics rankings are not an endorsement of AT&T.
4 Based on comparison of carrier owned & operated networks. No AT&T on-net coverage in select countries, including
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FAQ
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