Investing in our Communities
In Illinois, we invested more than $4.7 billion in our network infrastructure from 2019-2023 to connect more people to greater possibility.
Cities and communities throughout Illinois are seeing the impacts of this investment, including:
- Nearly $3.4 billion in metropolitan Chicago (includes parts of Indiana and Wisconsin)
- More than $70 million in Springfield
- Nearly $45 million in Champaign-Urbana
We understand how a connection can make the difference. That’s why our mission is to bring connectivity to everyone, no matter where they live or where they come from. We’re working to not only boost network reliability and capacity but also expand broadband nationwide to help bridge the digital divide.
Committed to expanding connectivity, our investment focuses on all facets of the network —including fiber, 5G and FirstNet,® Built with AT&T.
- Expanding Access to Fiber: To help meet the demands for reliable, high-speed connections today – and in the future – we’re investing in our fiber network. With more than 3.2 million fiber strand miles in Illinois, AT&T Fiber®is now available to more than 830,000 customer locations in parts of more than 210 communities including Alton, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Belleville, Bolingbrook, Champaign, Chicago, Cicero, Collinsville, Danville, Des Plaines, Edwardsville, Elgin, Evanston, Naperville, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Palatine, Rockford, Rock Island, Schaumburg, Skokie, Springfield, Tinley Park, Urbana, and Waukegan.
- With nearly 87 million fiber strand miles in 21 states, AT&T Fiber® now passes 26M+ locations in more than 100 metros.
- AT&T Fiber provides speed, reliability and value for consumers and businesses to enhance their internet experience for applications like video conferencing, virtual learning, telehealth, gaming and more.
- Unlocking the Power of 5G: From rural communities to urban areas, our overall wireless voice and data network covers more than 99% of all Americans, including Illinois. Our 5G network today reaches more than 295 million people in more than 24,500 cities and towns across the U.S. with our mid-band spectrum available nationwide, covering more than 210 million people.
- We’re working with businesses from manufacturing to healthcare to create new innovations and increase efficiencies with AT&T 5G.
- We’re ramping up performance in high traffic areas, like airports, stadiums and venues, including the United Center and Soldier Field in Chicago.
- For less densely populated areas like Farmer City, Lincoln, Mendota, Metropolis, Petersburg, Pontiac, Rushville, and Vienna, we’re expanding our 5G network so people there can have access to reliable connectivity.
- Giving First Responders the Reliable Connectivity they Need: As America’s public safety communication partner, we are expanding and enhancing FirstNet to give the public safety community better access to their network. Setting the stage for first responder innovation over the next 10 years, the FirstNet Authority announced a series of strategic investments totaling more than $8 billion into FirstNet. The latest network investment of $6.3 billion will enable AT&T to deliver a standalone FirstNet 5G core, provide always-on priority and preemption across all AT&T 5G commercial spectrum bands and build 1,000 new FirstNet sites across the country over the next two years.
- In Illinois, we’re connecting public safety agencies and organizations in nearly 500 cities across the state, including Bloomington, Chicago, Galesburg, Marion, Peoria, Quincy, and Rockford.
- We’ve rolled out Band 14 on more than 2,000 sites across Illinois to provide public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it.
And, we’re not just investing in our network, we’re also investing in our communities. AT&T recently announced it’s committing an additional $3 billion by 2030 to help close the digital divide, bringing the company’s total commitment to $5 billion since 2021.
- To help bridge the digital divide in Illinois, AT&T has opened 2 Connected Learning Centers in Chicago; supported more than 170 digital literacy workshops in the state to help parents and families build skills and confidence using technology; and, distributed more than 1,450 computers to students and their families across the state. Read more.
Good news is always great to share. Here are a few highlights from the last year in Illinois:
- March 26, 2024 | AT&T Fiber Now Available to More People in Illinois. Learn more.
- February 12, 2024 | Introducing: The People of AT&T Chicago. Learn more.
- November 9, 2023 | How We Changed 500 Lives in Chicago – in Just Five Days. Learn more.
To keep up with all the latest updates from AT&T Illinois, follow us on Twitter @ATTPublicPolicy and on LinkedIn.
*FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
*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.
