Powering Connection in Rhode Island Through Infrastructure Investment

What’s new: In Rhode Island, we invested more than $90 million in our network from 2021-2025 to build more infrastructure and power more opportunity.

But there’s more: In celebration of the 150^th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call, we recently announced an investment and spend of more than $250 billion in the future of U.S. advanced connectivity, building the high-speed networks and resilience required for the next era of innovation and economic growth.

Why it matters: Connectivity is the backbone of America’s innovation economy, shaping our daily life and supporting the safety and resilience of communities nationwide. By investing in communities across the country, we’re helping expand access, strengthen infrastructure, and unlock greater economic opportunity for Americans—fueling business growth, creating jobs, and helping more people participate in the modern economy.

How we’re making it happen in Rhode Island: 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 Rhode Island. Our 5G network using low-band spectrum reaches more than 320 million people in more than 27,700 cities and towns in the U.S.
  • We’re ramping up performance in high traffic areas, like airports, stadiums and venues
  • And we’re also working with AST SpaceMobile to offer a full suite of broadband connectivity: voice, data, and text in remote, off-grid locations. One day it may also support video services.
  • We also launched AT&T Internet Air, our fixed wireless home internet service delivered over our 5G network, an all-in-one device that powers strong Wi-Fi coverage in your home.
• Connectivity when it matters the most: As public safety’s partner, more first responders choose FirstNet to reliably communicate than any other network. The largest network for public safety with nearly 3M square miles of coverage, we are building a network with and for public safety—giving them the reliable, dedicated connectivity they need when and where they need it. We’re continuing to expand FirstNet with purpose-built FirstNet sites— based on direct public safety feedback and network considerations — focused on rural, tribal and remote areas of the country. We are also launching the first mission-critical push-to-talk platform (PTT), FirstNet Fusion, that can connect teams across virtually any radio system or wireless carrier. A secure, one-stop shop for emergency response coordination, Fusion will reduce complexities around group communication and bring together critical communications capabilities.
  • In Rhode Island, we’re connecting public safety agencies and organizations in nearly 80 localities across the state.
  • We’ve rolled out Band 14 on nearly 150 sites across Rhode Island to provide public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity.

And we’re not just investing in our network; we’re also investing in our communities. AT&T has committed $5 billion by 2030 to narrow the digital divide and help 25 million people get and stay connected to affordable, high-speed internet access and digital resources.

• Supported more than 95 digital literacy workshops since 2021 to help community members build skills and confidence using technology.
• Donated $10,000 each to the Warwick Boys & Girls Club for digital literacy programs

Good news is always great to share. Here are a few highlights from the last year in Rhode Island:

• Getting Digital Safety Resources in More Hands – AT&T Connects

To keep up with all the latest updates from AT&T Rhode Island, follow us on X @ATTPublicPolicy and and on LinkedIn.