AT&T this week is touting network improvements it made in eight states last year as part of a bid to encourage opt-in participation in its FirstNet buildout.
In a series of releases, AT&T highlighted investments it made in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, and Virginia in 2016, noting specifically that those have laid the groundwork for construction of its public safety broadband network.
Among the accomplishments showcased by the carrier were 975 wireless network upgrades in Arkansas, 3,570 upgrades in Florida, 846 improvements in Kentucky, 1,565 improvements in Maryland, 1,200 upgrades in Virginia, and 800 wireless network upgrades in Phoenix last year. AT&T also said it made $750 million in investments in Mississippi and spent $1.3 billion on infrastructure in New York between 2014 and 2016.
The carrier indicated more network investments would flow to states that participate in its upcoming FirstNet build.
“Should Arkansas opt-in to the FirstNet network, we will build upon our current and planned investments with a dedicated focus on the state’s first responders,” the carrier wrote. “And we would expect to make a significant investment to upgrade and maintain Florida’s FirstNet network over the next 25 years, bringing your first responders the coverage, value, and experience they expect.”
The move comes as AT&T courts states ahead of the planned release of FirstNet’s draft state plans next month. The carrier has previously said it plans to spend the summer wooing states to opt-in to the first responder network build in part by dangling the prospect of immediate network investments for early participants.
FirstNet has indicated that while draft state plans are expected to come out in June, final plans won’t be locked in until the fall.
Filed Under: Infrastructure