Home / Technology / AT&T Activates New Spectrum to Supercharge 5G Speeds Nationwide
AT&T Activates New Spectrum to Supercharge 5G Speeds Nationwide
17 Nov
Summary
- AT&T activates new wireless spectrum, boosting 5G speeds by up to 80%
- Upgrade benefits both mobile and home internet customers
- Expanded capacity enables better gaming, streaming, and rural connectivity
On November 17, 2025, AT&T announced a significant upgrade to its 5G network across the continental United States. The company has activated new wireless spectrum that it acquired in a $23 billion purchase from EchoStar last September, resulting in a substantial boost in 5G performance.
For AT&T customers with 5G-capable devices or subscribed to the AT&T Internet Air home internet service, the upgrade is already delivering tangible benefits. Download speeds on the mobile network have increased by up to 80%, while home internet subscribers are seeing speed improvements of up to 55%. This expanded capacity opens up new possibilities for gaming, streaming, and accessing other high-data applications, as well as improving connectivity for rural customers who lack access to fiber-optic home internet options.
Notably, AT&T has achieved these network enhancements without raising prices for existing customers. This is in contrast to recent moves by competitors Verizon and T-Mobile, who have instituted multi-year price guarantees. The upgrade also benefits AT&T internally, making its network more efficient and reducing the need for additional cellular tower construction, while encouraging customers to subscribe to both mobile and home internet services.
