Investing in our Communities
In Minnesota, we invested more than $625 million in our network infrastructure from 2019-2023 to connect more people to greater possibility.
Cities and communities throughout Minnesota are seeing the impacts of this investment, including:
- More than $375 million in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro
- More than $60 million in Duluth
- More than $15 million in Rochester
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 5G and FirstNet®, Built with AT&T.
- 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 Minnesota. 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 Target Center and U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and Allianz Field in St. Paul.
- For less densely populated areas like Grand Marais, Montevideo, Redwood Falls, and Thief River Falls, 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 Minnesota, we’re connecting public safety agencies and organizations in more than 260 cities across the state, including Cloquet, Duluth, Hibbing, Little Falls, Minneapolis, Red Wing, Rochester, St. Cloud, Stillwater, and Wabasha.
- We’ve rolled out Band 14 on nearly 950 sites across Minnesota 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 divide in North Minneapolis, AT&T teamed up with Human-I-T to provide 500 free laptops for families and students served by Northside Achievement Zone and the Urban League Twin Cities. Read more.
- AT&T also provided a $15,000 contribution to Mankato Youth Place to support their academic programs for local youth affected by the digital divide. Read more.
- And in Duluth, AT&T provided a $15,000 contribution to the YWCA Duluth to support their work to help at-risk women affected by the digital divide. Read more.
Good news is always great to share. Here are a few highlights from the last year in Minnesota:
- February 8, 2024 | ‘It Takes a Village’ – Free Laptops for North Minneapolis Kids and Families. Learn more.
- December 13, 2023 | MY Place to receive $15,000 AT&T digital divide contribution. Learn more.
- December 8, 2023 | Minneapolis students, families receive 500 free laptops from AT&T and Human-I-T. Learn more.
- December 1, 2023 | Duluth YWCA receives $15,000 AT&T donation for at-risk mothers. Learn more.
- July 7, 2023 | The Latest on Expanding Connectivity in Minnesota. Learn more.
- May 14, 2023 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Hampton. Learn more.
- May 8, 2023 | AT&T boosts network speeds across Minnesota. Learn more.
- January 31, 2023 | AT&T boosts network speeds in 10 communities across Minnesota. Learn more.
To keep up with all the latest updates from AT&T Minnesota, follow us on Twitter @ATTPublicPolicy and AT&T Connects Minnesota, 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.
