AT&T expands high-speed internet to rural areas

AT&T fixed wireless internet for rural and underserved locations is now available to residents and small businesses in parts of seven counties in west-central Indiana.

This rollout, which is part of AT&T’s participation in the Connect America Fund, began in 2015. Today, fixed wireless internet (FWI), is available to 10,000 locations in Putnam, Benton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Warren and Vermillion counties. Statewide, service is available to more than 36,000 Hoosier homes and businesses in 40-plus counties.

“Internet access has become increasingly important,” State Sen. Phil Boots said. “Almost every business needs it to operate. Our students get online to complete homework. We pay our bills and order goods and services of all kinds through the internet. I’m pleased to see fixed wireless internet is now offered in our community and have no doubt it will prove to be a valuable resource.”

“This is great news for our area,” State Rep. Alan Morrison said. “In today’s world, high-speed connectivity is important, and I’m excited to see the private sector continuing to bring innovative solutions to our rural Indiana communities.”

AT&T fixed wireless internet delivers an internet connection with a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 1 Mbps. Nationwide, AT&T FWI customers typically experience download speeds of 25 Mbps.

The connection comes from a wireless tower to a fixed antenna on a customer’s home or business. This is a way to deliver high-quality, high-speed internet to customers living in rural areas.

The towers used to provide this service are connected to AT&T’s network using fiber optics. AT&T has nearly 1.3 million strand miles of fiber optics covering Indiana, which enables the company to offer a wide variety of products and services delivering the high-speed connectivity Indiana businesses and residents need.

“AT&T is committed to bringing high-speed internet to as many Hoosiers as possible,” AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards said. “Wireless technologies have increasingly become a leading method to connect consumers and small businesses and fixed wireless internet is changing the game in many Indiana communities.”

Overall, AT&T now offers a CAF high-speed internet service to more than 890,000 locations across 18 states, with plans to provide access to more than 1.1 million locations by the end of this year.

To learn more about fixed wireless internet from AT&T, go to att.com/internet/fixed-wireless.html.