AT&T Invests Nearly $100 Million Over 3-Year Period to Boost Local Networks in Iowa

At AT&T1, we’ve invested nearly $100 million in our Iowa wireless and wired networks during 2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses. We’ve also improved critical services that support Public Safety and first responders using the FirstNet communications platform.

AT&T’s wireless network covers more than 99% of all Americans and has become the fastest wireless network in the nation, according to the first quarter 2019 results from tests taken with Speedtest® and analyzed by Ookla®.2

In 2018, AT&T made 812 wireless network upgrades in Iowa. We added new cell sites, additional network capacity and enhanced back haul. By building out our 4G LTE network, we’re boosting network speeds and capacity, as we continue to expand the availability of our network and upgrade our technology.

Additionally, for the 5th consecutive year we've landed on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired" companies. It's also the 6th year in a row we've appeared on the Global Top 50 list – no other telecom company made the Top 50.

“In order to compete in a disruptive digital and global economy, Iowa must have the best mobile high-speed broadband networks in place,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “Our strategy for broadband internet expansion includes private sector investments like AT&T’s as well as leveraging state and federal dollars. Taking this approach will help create vibrant economic opportunities for agriculture, health care, manufacturing, education, energy, transportation and public safety.”

“Mobile broadband communications are fast becoming the lifeblood of many local businesses and important to job creation and the growth of our state’s economy,” said Mike Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. “AT&T’s continued investment in our state and the buildout of wireless cell sites and small cells helps ensure that businesses and consumers across the state are able to use the latest high-speed online applications and services.”

Transforming Public Safety Communications

FirstNet is Public Safety's dedicated, nationwide communications platform. It is for all first responders – career and volunteer, urban or rural. It’s bringing public safety communications into the 21st century with new, innovative capabilities, helping first responders connect to the critical information they need – every day and in every emergency.

Building upon our current and planned investments in Iowa, we continue to extend the reach and increase the capacity of the FirstNet communications platform:

• Deployed Band 14 spectrum in more than 600 markets nationwide, including Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City and Waterloo. Band 14 is high-quality spectrum provided by the First Responder Network Authority. Its signal covers larger geographic areas with less infrastructure to better support rural communities, and it can better reach in-building in more urban areas as compared to higher-MHz spectrum.
• Iowa first responders enjoy the fastest overall experience on FirstNet, compared to any commercial network in the nation, thanks to the specialized capabilities enabled by the physically separate and dedicated FirstNet network core, like always-on priority and preemption. 3
• Public safety agencies subscribed to FirstNet have 24/7 access to a nationwide fleet of 75 deployable network assets. These assets can either be deployed for planned events or called upon in emergencies to help first responders stay connected and operate faster, safer and more effectively when lives are on the line.

FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority – an independent agency within the federal government. This helps ensure that the FirstNet communications platform and service offerings meet the short- and long-term needs of the public safety community.

To learn more about our wireless coverage in Iowa, or anywhere in the U.S., visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

1 AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

2 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data average download speeds for Q1 2019. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

3Based on AT&T analysis of Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® nationwide data average download speeds for Q1 2019. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward- looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.