The Latest on Expanding Connectivity in Minnesota

Paul Weirtz — President, AT&T Minnesota
June 8, 2023
Broadband Access and Affordability, Public Safety


The Latest on Expanding Connectivity in Minnesota

What’s New?

May 8, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds Across Minnesota: AT&T has expanded its 5G network across Minnesota, giving residents, businesses and visitors a big boost in their wireless connectivity. We’ve added new cells tower to enhance the area’s coverage and capacity, and help customers unlock the power of our network.

  • In Esko, a new site on the east side will provide coverage when traveling along East Highway 61 and Jay Cooke Road in the area.
  • In Ely, a new site west of Ely near Wolf Lake will provide coverage when traveling along U.S. Highway 169/State Highway 1 in the area.
  • In Eveleth, a new site just south of Eveleth will provide coverage when traveling along Highway 37 near Long Lake.
  • In Hampton, a new site just north of Hampton will provide coverage when traveling along U.S. Highway 52 and State Highway 50 in the area.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Bloomington: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Bloomington area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower in Bloomington to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site will provide coverage when traveling along France Avenue South and W. 90th Street in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Cook: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Cook area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower just north of Cook to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site will provide coverage when traveling along Vermilion Drive/County Highway 24 in the Cook area. It will also cover the western portion of Lake Vermilion, including Wakemup Bay. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for East Bethel and Ham Lake: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the East Bethel and Ham Lake areas got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site between East Bethel and Ham Lake will provide coverage when traveling along State Highway 65 in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Floodwood: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Floodwood area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower just north of Floodwood to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site will provide coverage when traveling along U.S. Highway 2 and State Highway 200 in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Hermantown: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Hermantown area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower in Hermantown to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site near Duluth International Airport will provide coverage when traveling along U.S. Highway 53 and Lavaque Bypass Road. It will also improve the experience at the airport terminal. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for McGregor: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the McGregor area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower just south of McGregor to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site near the Rice River will provide coverage when traveling along State Highways 65 and 27 in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Two Harbors: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers along the North Shore got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower in Two Harbors to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site near the Little Stewart River will provide coverage when traveling along County Highways 2 and 12 in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Wayzata: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Wayzata area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower in Wayzata to enhance the area’s mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site will provide coverage when traveling along Wayzata Boulevard East and U.S. Highway 12. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

January 31, 2023 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds for Worthington: AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in the Worthington area got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower just east of Worthington to enhance mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. This new site will provide coverage when traveling along Interstate 90 in the area. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

September 20, 2022 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds Across Minnesota: AT&T customers and FirstNet® subscribers in Isanti, Embarrass and Princeton got big boosts in wireless connectivity. We’ve added new cell towers in these communities to enhance the area’s mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable coverage. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

September 19, 2022 | AT&T Boosts Network Speeds Across Minnesota: AT&T customers and FirstNet® subscribers in Baudette, Brainerd, Long Prairie, Mora, Motley and Wrenshall got big boosts in wireless connectivity. We’ve added new cell towers in these communities to enhance the area’s mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable coverage. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

July 7, 2022 | AT&T* customers and FirstNet® subscribers in Tintah, just southwest of Fergus Falls, got a big boost in wireless connectivity. We’ve added a new cell tower near the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Ash Street in Tintah in Traverse County to enhance the area’s mobile broadband coverage and help give residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. Our investment will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices.

  • “From connecting family and loved ones to helping first responders during a crisis, AT&T is committed to investing in our Minnesota network,” said Paul Weirtz – President, AT&T Minnesota. “We consistently work to provide better coverage for our customers and public safety across the state, including in Tintah and Traverse County – and we’re investing in our wireless network to accomplish that.”

AT&T Investments Connect Communities

In Minnesota, we invested nearly $400 million in our wireless and wireline networks from 2019-2021, including nearly $200 million in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area.

We know how important it is for our customers to stay connected. That’s why we’re focused on boosting network reliability and capacity as we expand our network nationwide. This helps residents get the best possible experience over the AT&T network where they live, work and play, as well as supporting first responders on FirstNet®.

We are also working closely with local communities and government leaders in Minnesota to expand access to fast and reliable internet. By combining the resources of the government and private sector, we can fast-track the closing of the digital divide regardless of income or zip code.

Committed to expanding connectivity, our investment focuses on all facets of the network— from 5G to FirstNet.

  • Unlocking the Power of 5G: AT&T is America’s Most Reliable 5G Network1. AT&T currently offers 3 flavors of 5G*, which helps enable the network to reach its full potential. Here’s how they work:
    • AT&T 5G using low-band spectrum offers fast speeds and reaches more than 277 million people in more than 18,000 cities and towns in the U.S., including Austin, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Mankato, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Owatonna, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and Worthington.
    • AT&T 5G+ recently introduced mid-band spectrum in limited parts of 8 metros nationwide, including Minneapolis. This spectrum sits between our other 2 bands. The mid-band spectrum provides a great combination of ultra-fast speeds and wide geographic coverage.
    • AT&T 5G+ using high-band (millimeter wave) spectrum delivers super-fast speeds and unprecedented performances in high traffic areas including parts of more than 45 cities and 40 stadiums and venues nationwide, including in parts of Minneapolis and at the Target Center and U.S. Bank Stadium.
  • Supporting First Responders by Expanding the Nation’s Public Safety Network: FirstNet, Built with AT&T, is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband network built with and for America’s first responders. Today, we cover nearly all of Minnesota with FirstNet – helping to connect public safety agencies and organizations in more than 190 communities across the state. It provides America’s first responders and the extended public safety community with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it. FirstNet includes unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption, high-quality Band 14 spectrum and a one-of-a-kind 5G experience to keep public safety mission ready.

Here are a few highlights of the enhancements we’ve made in Minnesota in the last few years:

  • April 12, 2022 | FirstNet, Built with AT&T is connecting more first responders across Minnesota. Learn more.
  • March 28, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Rochester. Learn more.
  • March 28, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Wheaton. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for St. Paul. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Hawley. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Pierz. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Zimmerman. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Milan. Learn more.
  • February 2, 2022 | FirstNet launch boosts first responder capabilities in Hokah. Learn more.
  • December 14, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds in Stearns County. Learn more.
  • December 9, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Angle Inlet, the northernmost point of the contiguous 48 states, to support first responders. Learn more.
  • November 16, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Togo to support public safety. Learn more.
  • November 16, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Grand Marais to support public safety. Learn more.
  • November 16, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Rice County to support public safety. Learn more.
  • October 15, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Pine City. Learn more.
  • September 21, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Fillmore County to support public safety. Learn more.
  • September 7, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches near Baudette to support public safety. Learn more.
  • August 6, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in the Kabetogama State Forest to support first responders in northern Minnesota. Learn more.
  • August 6, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches near Kellogg to support first responders. Learn more.
  • June 7, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site primarily powered by solar launches on Echo Trail to support first responders. Learn more.
  • May 17, 2021 | New FirstNet cell site launches in Lewiston to support first responders. Learn more.
  • May 17, 2021 | New FirstNet cell sites launch in Hovland and Cloquet to support first responders. Learn more.
  • April 26, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Chisholm. Learn more.
  • March 18, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Little Falls. Learn more.
  • March 18, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Coon Rapids. Learn more.
  • March 18, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Chisago City. Learn more.
  • March 17, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Zim. Learn more.
  • March 17, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Rochester. Learn more.
  • March 17, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Princeton and Zimmerman. Learn more.
  • March 17, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Golden Valley. Learn more.
  • March 17, 2021 | AT&T boosts network speeds for Delano. Learn more.

1 AT&T awarded Best Network by GWS OneScore 2021. GWS conducts paid drive tests for AT&T and uses the data in its OneScore analysis. AT&T 5G requires compatible plan and device. 5G not available everywhere. Go to att.com/5Gforyou for details.

* To experience AT&T 5G+, you’ll need to be in a 5G+ coverage area, have a 5G+ capable device, and be on one of our plans that include 5G and 5G+ access at no extra charge. See att.com/unlimited for more details.

® 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 Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.FirstNet

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