AT&T rolled out the 3.45GHz spectrum it bought from EchoStar across nearly 23,000 cell sites, which boosted its 5G download speeds by up to 80 per cent across its contiguous US footprint.

The operator claims the new spectrum is unlocking “substantial increases in speed and capacity for customers in more than 5,300 cities”.

AT&T stated its fixed wireless access service, Internet Air, saw a 55 per cent bump in download speed thanks to the new spectrum.

During a Q3 earnings call in October, CEO John Stankey said AT&T got an early jump on using EchoStar’s 3.45GHz spectrum through a short-term spectrum manager lease.

The $23 billion EchoStar and AT&T deal is expected to close in mid-2026, pending regulatory approval.

The operator is also counting on the spectrum to boost its convergence strategy for its home internet and 5G wireless services.

AT&T COO Jeff McElfresh stated the new spectrum “gives us the runway to expand availability of AT&T Internet Air for consumers and businesses and add even more download speed to our 5G service”.

AT&T stated its subscribers can expect more capacity for streaming, gaming and AI-powered apps. The upgrade also improves 5G service for first responders on FirstNet Authority.