AT&T(T.US)弃铜缆押注光纤：争夺流量激增时代“超车道”

Core Viewpoint - AT&T is accelerating its strategic shift from copper telephone lines to fiber optic investments, citing faster transmission speeds and lower maintenance costs as key advantages [1][2]. Group 1: Strategic Shift - The company is urging users to abandon copper lines, which incur an annual maintenance cost of $6 billion [1]. - AT&T is significantly expanding its fiber optic network to meet the increasing demand for data, including from next-generation AI tools [1]. - The CEO emphasized the symmetrical data transmission capabilities of fiber optics, which provide equal upload and download speeds [1]. Group 2: Expansion Plans - AT&T plans to add approximately 4.5 million active households with fiber access, aiming to expand coverage to nearly 10 million households in valuable investment areas [2]. - The company has set a target to cover 60 million households with fiber by 2030, with potential growth to 70 million thereafter [2]. - The acquisition of Lumen Technologies Inc.'s consumer fiber business for $5.75 billion is expected to enhance AT&T's presence in major cities like Denver and Las Vegas [1]. Group 3: Cost Efficiency and Market Position - Replacing aging copper lines with fiber is projected to reduce energy consumption by 70% and maintenance costs by 35% [2]. - The sale of copper metal from decommissioned lines is anticipated to generate significant cash returns [2]. - AT&T aims to improve its market share in the wireless phone sector, currently trailing behind Verizon and T-Mobile, with over 40% of its fiber customers also subscribing to its wireless services [2][3].