AT&T keeps creating public-private partnerships to deploy broadband, having announced today a $13 million project to build fiber across nine Indiana counties.
Target markets in this upcoming rollout include Bartholomew, Clinton, Montgomery and Putnam counties. The project aims to bring fiber to nearly 6,100 locations, and AT&T said construction will begin upon the execution of a final contract.
AT&T has recently put in work deploying fiber to the state. The operator earlier this month finalized a $4.4 million contract to deliver fiber to over 4,000 locations across the city of Boonville, Indiana. Most notably, AT&T is undertaking a $39.6 million public-private partnership in Indiana’s Vanderburgh County.
“We have a long history of connecting Hoosiers, and we’re excited about this opportunity to continue to work with the state and these local communities on closing the digital divide,” stated Bill Soards, president of AT&T Indiana. “AT&T’s fiber network is fast and reliable, and we look forward to helping build better futures for the businesses and people of Indiana.”
Aside from Indiana, AT&T struck a $24 million deal with the city of Amarillo, Texas to cover approximately 22,000 locations with XGS-PON fiber. The operator in May also snagged $33 million – worth nearly as much as the Vanderburgh County project – to build fiber in Kentucky’s Oldham County.
AT&T’s array of fiber projects highlights the company’s plans to reach 30 million fiber passings by the end of 2025. The first quarter saw AT&T total nearly 6.3 million fiber subscribers, and COO Jeff McElfresh said last month the operator will likely cover 3.5 million to 4 million more locations with fiber by this year’s end.
AT&T’s recent public-partnership wins indicate an overall trend of operators warming up to working with municipalities and other local communities. Gary Bolton, president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, told Fierce last year he thinks “The tide has changed where experienced providers are now realizing there’s a role for them to help, whether it’s a utility or a municipality or any community effort to put broadband in.”