US telecom operator AT&T has made an investment of nearly $575 million in its Arizona wireless and wired networks during 2014-2016 to enhance coverage, speed and performance.

AT&T has made 1,040 wireless network upgrades in Arizona in 2016 by adding new cell sites as well as adding network capacity to existing cell sites.

Jerry Fuentes, president of AT&T Arizona, said: “This investment will include next-generation upgrades that will pave the path to 5G mobile services in the years ahead.”

AT&T in Arizona

AT&T has upgraded the Phoenix area network to prepare for the NCAA Men’s Final Four, including adding wireless capacity to Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) at the University of Phoenix Stadium and Phoenix Convention Center.

AT&T deployed Cell on Wheels (COWs) to keep crowds connected at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and other major events.

AT&T has more than 40,000 Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers. It provides access to Wi-Fi at more than 1 million Hot Spots around the world. AT&T said its LTE network now covers nearly 400 million people in North America.