AT&T has surpassed a major achievement in its fiber network expansion, reaching over 30 million locations. This accomplishment aligns with the goal to spread fiber broadband across the nation, aiming for 60 million locations by 2030. The company’s CEO, John Stankey, emphasizes that this milestone signifies a boost in their fiber-and-wireless growth strategy.
However, AT&T is not alone in the fiber expansion arena. Verizon and T-Mobile are aggressively pursuing similar goals. This competitive landscape is elevating the broadband market race in the U.S.
In May, AT&T announced plans to acquire Lumen’s Mass Market fiber operations for $5.75 billion. This deal would add a million customers and reach four million locations across 11 states. The acquisition is expected to finalize in early 2026. The company will take over Lumen’s fiber assets and merge its non-enterprise customers into the AT&T Fiber network over time.
Besides acquisitions, AT&T is expanding network reach through partnerships and organic growth. The recent collaboration with PRIME FiBER extends their network into Arizona’s underserved suburbs, such as Peoria and Sun City. These partnerships are strategic, allowing AT&T to broaden its coverage without incurring the full construction costs.
AT&T’s strategy focuses on service convergence, offering both fiber and wireless options. This approach increases customer satisfaction and retention. The company reportedly invested over $145 billion from 2020 to 2024 to expand its fiber and 5G infrastructures.
