In Louisiana, state and local leaders have worked to welcome private investment in advanced communications technology. This leadership has spurred a tremendous influx of private capital into our state and has greatly increased connectivity in Louisiana.
From 2018-2020, AT&T expanded coverage and improved connectivity in more communities by investing nearly $1.1 billion in our wireless and wireline networks across Louisiana. Our investments are essential to connecting our customers with their families, friends, and colleagues by increasing the network’s speed, reliability, coverage, and overall performance.
For decades, we have deployed fiber optics across the state, connecting our citizens at home and at work and providing backhaul for our wireless network. Our investments in this state reflect:
- More than 2.3 million strand-miles of fiber optics in Louisiana, supporting businesses and residents statewide.
- More than 325,000 customer locations in Louisiana have access to AT&T Fiber – our 100 percent fiber-to-the-home broadband service, with speeds up to 1 GB.
- So far in 2021, we have turned up 16 new wireless sites in 12 Parishes. Our fiber-optic footprint is also the foundation of our wireless network.
- We also expanded 5G service across parts of 60 parishes, bringing the latest technology to even more customers.
Despite the hard work and long history of investment in the state from both AT&T and other communications providers, we recognize that more must be done.
As Louisiana residents and businesses continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to appreciate the significance of connectivity and public policies that promote private-sector investment – and the intersection between those two.
Despite predictions to the contrary and the experience of some other countries where networks buckled, America’s broadband networks kept our communities connected, even with substantially increased broadband traffic nationwide – including in Louisiana.
That was no accident. Decades of bipartisan government policies promoted critical private-sector investment that produced this result. Policymakers weren’t planning for a pandemic when they decided to impose a light regulatory touch on broadband infrastructure, but good policy produces good results in unpredictable circumstances.
In 2021, we are increasing our national fiber footprint by 3 million customer locations across more than 90 metro areas that we currently serve nationwide. This build includes neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport, Thibodaux, and many more.
At AT&T, we are committed to working with you to explore new and innovative ways to help close the digital divide. We have unmatched expertise in this industry, and we are proud to make the investments necessary to keep our communities connected and to help meet rising consumer demand.
