BEDFORD — Telecommunications giant AT&T has unveiled a massive, multi-million-dollar high-speed network investment plan across Indiana, earmarking more than $25 million specifically for infrastructure upgrades in the Bedford area as the company moves to completely phase out legacy copper phone lines by 2029.
The local injection is part of a broader, statewide infrastructure blitz targeting multiple Indiana municipal markets. According to regional distribution data released by the company, the breakdown of capital investments includes:
- Indianapolis/Carmel/Anderson markets: Nearly $775 million
- Evansville market: Nearly $130 million
- Fort Wayne market: More than $45 million
- Bloomington market: Nearly $40 million
- Bedford market: More than $25 million-
The cornerstone of the newly announced investment is an aggressive, multi-year plan to transition the state away from century-old, copper-based wireline infrastructure. AT&T announced its goal to officially exit copper-based landline services in the vast majority of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029.
Company officials emphasized that throughout the multi-year transition, strict safeguards will be in place to ensure no Hoosier customer loses vital access to traditional voice or emergency 911 services.
To bridge the gap, the company is steering customers toward wireless alternatives and “AT&T Phone-Advanced”—a modernized digital phone service that utilizes AT&T’s cellular network while leveraging any existing broadband connection as an automated system backup. The advanced digital service is now active and available across Indiana.
Expanding Fiber, 5G, and FirstNet Emergency Coverage
The capital investment also targets significant expansions of fiber-optic internet availability, cellular density, and dedicated public safety networks across the state:
- AT&T Fiber Expansion: Armed with nearly 2 million strand miles of fiber-optic lines already buried across Indiana, AT&T Fiber’s high-speed internet accessibility has officially expanded to reach more than 710,000 residential and commercial customer locations statewide.
- FirstNet Dedicated Public Safety: Built in a public-private partnership with the federal government, AT&T’s dedicated first responder network, FirstNet, now connects public safety personnel across 630 separate Indiana communities. Technicians have successfully rolled out “Band 14″—the highly restricted, dedicated radio spectrum vital for communications during large-scale emergencies—on nearly 1,400 cellular towers statewide.
- High-Traffic 5G Performance: Cellular data performance is being aggressively ramped up inside heavily populated, high-traffic Hoosier venues. Recent internal wireless overhauls have targeted major transit hubs, regional airports, and premier sports stadiums, including Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
In tandem with hardware upgrades, the service provider highlighted ongoing community initiatives addressing localized internet disparities.
To combat the digital divide closer to home, the company partnered with the Indianapolis Urban League to open a dedicated AT&T Connected Learning Center. The urban facility provides local students and families with free, unrestricted access to high-speed fiber internet, robust Wi-Fi, modern computer stations, and structured, free educational resources to assist with homework and remote learning.
