Dear Friend,

Our mission is connecting people to greater possibilities in Illinois.

That’s why we’re excited to share in Illinois, we invested nearly $4.8 billion in our network infrastructure from 2020-2024.

We are proud to make that major investment in Illinois. It demonstrates our commitment to the connectivity needed to power economic growth and create opportunities for people throughout the state.

Read more to see some of the highlights of our work across the state:

How we invested in Illinois

What’s new: In Illinois, we invested nearly $4.8 billion in our network infrastructure from 2020-2024 to connect more people to greater possibility.

Go deeper: Cities and communities throughout Illinois are seeing the impacts of this investment, including:

• Nearly $3.4 billion - Metropolitan Chicago (including some areas of Wisconsin and Indiana)
• Nearly $45 million - Champaign
• More than $70 million - Springfield

Why it matters: Every Illinoisian deserves access to fast, reliable connectivity when it matters most – whether it’s an important call to a family member or friend, the internet that powers work and online learning, or the connection that first responders rely on. It’s this connectivity that’s powering economic growth and supporting job creation across Illinois.

Upgrading our network infrastructure

More fiber connectivity: We now have 3.3 million miles of AT&T Fiber^® in Illinois that is powering 870,000 customer locations in 230 cities.

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.

• We’re ramping up performance in high traffic areas, including airports, stadiums and venues, including United Center and Soldier Field as well as Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.
• For less densely populated areas like Freeport, Galena, Rushville, Centralia, Pinckneyville, and Lincoln, we’re expanding our 5G network so people there can have access to reliable connectivity.
• And we’re also working with AST SpaceMobile to offer one day voice, data, text and video services in remote, off-grid locations.

Building networks for the next century: To reach our goal and better serve our customers with faster, more reliable services, we’re actively investing to modernize our networks that will power us for the next century, not the last one.

• We developed products like AT&T Phone-Advanced, a digital phone service that uses our reliable wireless network and any broadband connection, as a reliable alternative to plain old telephone service (POTS).

Unprecedented connectivity for our first responders

What’s new: Now, with more than 2.99 million square miles of coverage, FirstNet has the largest network footprint in the country and covers more first responders than any commercial network, and we are only continuing to grow.

Expanding connectivity: As part of our 10-year, $8 billion+ investment initiative with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) to transform public safety’s communications, we have completed the buildout of 1,000 new FirstNet sites across the country – well ahead of schedule and almost twice as fast as we pledged – providing first responders with dedicated connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum.

Connecting first responders in Illinois:

• In Illinois, we’re connecting public safety agencies and organizations in more than 1,260 municipalities across the state, including Chicago, Aurora, Springfield, Elgin, Rockford, Joliet, Champaign, Naperville, Peoria, and Belleville.
• We’ve rolled out Band 14 on 2,150 sites across Illinois to provide public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity.

Read more:

• With FCC Authorization, FirstNet, Built with AT&T Envisions Satellite Connectivity Trials Later This Year
• Critical communications for First Responders - LinkedIn post
• 'Policing Is a Career Based on Teamwork' - AT&T Connects

Bridging the digital divide in Illinois

What’s the latest: We’re not just investing in our network; we’re also investing in our communities. Last year, AT&T announced a commitment of an additional $3 billion by 2030 to help close the digital divide, bringing the company’s total commitment to $5 billion since 2021.

How we’re making it happen in Illinois: “Magical” Laptops from AT&T During Chicago Connectivity Week Help Students on the Road to Greater Possibility - AT&T Connects

Read more:

• With Illinois Connectivity Day, AT&T Connects More Families to Greater Possibility - AT&T Connects

We’re investing in bringing connectivity to communities across the state to expand opportunity, power growth and keep Illinois connected.

We thank you for your collaboration and look forward to sharing more updates with you throughout the year.

Eileen Mitchell
President, AT&T Midwest States

Learn more at attconnects.com/illinois