AT&T Boosts 5G Capacity Nationwide with New Spectrum, Giving Customers a Stronger, Faster Connection

Rhea-AI Summary

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.

Positive

• 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

Negative

• Spectrum integration provided via a short-term spectrum manager lease
• Deployment excludes Alaska and Hawaii

News Market Reaction

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-0.47% News Effect

On the day this news was published, T declined 0.47%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStar spectrum integration accelerates AT&T's 5G leadership and strengthens our network performance

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 North America⁴, customers are starting to see significant improvements in download speeds on upgraded spectrum bands. In fact, customers may see download speeds up to 80 percent faster for mobility and 55 percent for AT&T Internet Air.

"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 U.S. wireless. The spectrum expands one of the nation's most balanced portfolios of low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum, powering next-generation use cases from AI-enabled devices to enterprise edge applications.

Over the past 5 years, we have invested more capital than any other company in U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. So, when it comes to how much we have invested into our network, T-Mobile and Verizon don't compare.   

"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 Alaska and Hawaii
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 Canada.

About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

© 2025 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

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SOURCE AT&T

FAQ

What 5G spectrum did AT&T (T) deploy on Nov 17, 2025?

AT&T deployed mid-band 3.45 GHz spectrum obtained from EchoStar, integrated to nearly 23,000 cell sites.

How much faster did AT&T say 5G speeds can be after the EchoStar spectrum deployment?

The company reported customers may see up to 80% faster download speeds for mobility and 55% faster for AT&T Internet Air.

How many cities and states did AT&T say the new spectrum now serves?

AT&T said the upgrade reached more than 5,300 cities across 48 states (excludes Alaska and Hawaii).

Will the EchoStar spectrum deployment affect AT&T's home internet offering?

AT&T said the added mid-band spectrum powers expansion of AT&T Internet Air and supports converged wireless + home internet growth.

Is the EchoStar spectrum a permanent acquisition for AT&T?

The company indicated the spectrum is integrated pursuant to a short-term spectrum manager lease.

Does the new spectrum benefit public-safety FirstNet users?

Yes; AT&T said the deployment enhances FirstNet, providing improved 5G experience for first responders with all-band priority and preemption.