AT&T’s 5G & Fiber Bundling Drives Q4 Growth

AT&T’s 5G and fiber bundling strategy drove record-breaking subscriber growth in Q4 2024, with 482,000 new wireless customers and 307,000 fiber additions. This approach boosted revenue to $32.3 billion, outperforming market forecasts and strengthening AT&T’s competitive edge in a saturated telecom market.
AT&T’s 5G & Fiber Bundling Drives Q4 Growth

AT&T has surpassed expectations for its fourth-quarter 2024 performance, reporting significant subscriber growth driven by its strategy to bundle 5G mobile services with high-speed fiber internet. This approach has enabled the telecom giant to stand out in a competitive market while boosting customer acquisitions and financial performance.

AT&T Adds 482K Wireless and 307K Fiber Customers in Q4


AT&T added 482,000 new postpaid wireless subscribers in the holiday quarter, exceeding analysts’ expectations of 424,550 additions, according to data from Visible Alpha. This marked another successful quarter in attracting monthly bill-paying customers, bolstered by its discounted premium plans that combine 5G and fiber services.

The company also reported a significant milestone in its fiber business, gaining 307,000 new fiber customers, a record-breaking number for a fourth quarter. This performance surpasses the 226,000 fiber subscriber additions in the previous quarter, reflecting the growing appeal of AT&T’s bundled services among households.

How Holiday Deals Boosted AT&T’s Q4 Subscriber Growth

The last quarter of the year typically brings higher subscriber activity for telecom providers, and AT&T capitalized on this seasonal boost. Promotions tied to Black Friday, iPhone trade-in offers, and holiday gift-giving helped drive new customer sign-ups.

Why Fiber Is Central to AT&T’s Future Growth

Industry experts see AT&T’s focus on fiber expansion as a key component of its long-term growth strategy. According to Jonathan Chaplin, an analyst at New Street Research, fiber broadband is a more profitable business than mobile services and is expected to trade at higher valuations over time.

This sentiment aligns with AT&T’s aggressive plans to expand its fiber network. The company has committed to reaching 50 million locations by 2029 and forecasts that its free cash flow will exceed $18 billion by 2027. AT&T CEO John Stankey emphasized this focus, stating, “We continue to build the largest, highest capacity, lowest marginal cost, converged broadband network in the country.”

AT&T Beats Revenue and Profit Expectations in Q4

AT&T’s robust subscriber growth translated into strong financial performance for the quarter. The company reported a profit of 54 cents per share, surpassing analysts’ estimates of 50 cents per share. Total revenue rose 1% to $32.3 billion, also beating market forecasts of $32.04 billion.

AT&T’s Strategy to Stand Out in a Crowded Telecom Market

The U.S. telecom market is becoming increasingly saturated, with a shrinking pool of potential new wireless customers. Competitors such as Verizon also saw notable gains, adding 568,000 monthly subscribers during the same period. In this environment, AT&T’s strategic bundling of 5G and fiber services has helped differentiate its offerings, making it more attractive to consumers.

To further solidify its market position, AT&T has introduced bill credits for network outages as of January 9, 2025. This customer-friendly initiative is designed to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty as competition intensifies.

How 5G and Fiber Are Shaping AT&T’s Market Strategy

AT&T’s performance reflects broader trends in the telecommunications industry, where 5G and fiber connectivity are reshaping the landscape. With consumers demanding faster, more reliable internet for streaming, gaming, and remote work, companies like AT&T are investing heavily in their networks to meet these expectations.

AT&T’s ability to integrate 5G, fiber, and value-added customer service initiatives positions it as a key player in this evolving market. The company’s plans to expand its fiber footprint and introduce innovative offerings reflect a broader shift toward comprehensive connectivity solutions, meeting the needs of a digital-first economy.

AT&T’s Path to Growth with 5G and Fiber Expansion

Looking forward, AT&T’s focus on bundling 5G and fiber services, coupled with its fiber expansion plans, will likely remain central to its growth strategy. The company’s commitment to achieving over 50 million fiber locations by 2029 underscores its long-term vision.

While the competition remains fierce, AT&T’s ability to exceed expectations in subscriber growth and revenue demonstrates the effectiveness of its strategic approach. By addressing customer demands for better connectivity and offering added value through promotions and service guarantees, AT&T is well-positioned to maintain its momentum in a competitive telecom landscape.


Recent Content

Airtel has acquired 400 MHz of 26 GHz mmWave spectrum from Adani Data Networks, a move that strengthens its high-speed 5G offerings in urban and enterprise zones. The deal enhances Airtel’s ability to scale fixed wireless access, industrial 5G networks, and high-bandwidth consumer services. With India’s spectrum demand surging, this acquisition underscores the critical role of efficient spectrum use and signals a new phase of telecom consolidation.
ETSI has published its first ISAC report for 6G—ETSI GR ISC 001—highlighting 18 use cases across healthcare, public safety, automation, and mobility. The report dives into deployment scenarios, sensing modalities, and KPIs like fine motion accuracy and sensing latency. It also outlines security, privacy, and sustainability guidelines for real-world ISAC integration into 6G networks.
In 2025, 5G surpasses 2.25 billion global connections, marking a pivotal shift toward mainstream adoption. While North America leads in performance and per capita usage, challenges in spectrum policy and enterprise integration remain. This in-depth report from 5G Americas explores the rise of Standalone 5G, the promise of 5G-Advanced, the reality of private network deployments, and the need for smart, forward-looking spectrum strategy.
Low-code platforms like VC4’s Service2Create (S2C) are transforming telecom operations by accelerating service delivery, reducing manual tasks, and simplifying integration with legacy systems. Discover how this technology drives digital transformation, improves efficiency, and future-proofs telecom networks.
Nokia, Digita, and CoreGo have partnered to roll out private 5G networks and edge computing solutions at high-traffic event venues. Using Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) and CoreGo’s payment and access tech, the trio delivers real-time data flow, reliable connectivity, and enhanced guest experience across Finland and international locations—serving over 2 million attendees to date.
AI Pulse: Telecom’s Next Frontier is a definitive guide to how AI is reshaping the telecom landscape — strategically, structurally, and commercially. Spanning over 130 pages, this MWC 2025 special edition explores AI’s growing maturity in telecom, offering a comprehensive look at the technologies and trends driving transformation.

Explore strategic AI pillars—from AI Ops and Edge AI to LLMs, AI-as-a-Service, and governance—and learn how telcos are building AI-native architectures and monetization models. Discover insights from 30+ global CxOs, unpacking shifts in leadership thinking around purpose, innovation, and competitive advantage.

The edition also examines connected industries at the intersection of Private 5G, AI, and Satellite—fueling transformation in smart manufacturing, mobility, fintech, ports, sports, and more. From fan engagement to digital finance, from smart cities to the industrial metaverse, this is the roadmap to telecom’s next era—where intelligence is the new infrastructure, and telcos become the enablers of everything connected.
Whitepaper
As VoLTE becomes the standard for voice communication, its rapid deployment exposes telecom networks to new security risks, especially in roaming scenarios. SecurityGen’s research uncovers key vulnerabilities like unauthorized access to IMS, SIP protocol threats, and lack of encryption. Learn how to strengthen VoLTE security with proactive measures such as...
Whitepaper
Dive into the comprehensive analysis of GTPu within 5G networks in our whitepaper, offering insights into its operational mechanics, strategic importance, and adaptation to the evolving landscape of cellular technologies....

It seems we can't find what you're looking for.

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top