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What’s the news?  Memphis Police Department is connecting its officers to FirstNet®, Built with AT&T – the only network built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. Allowing the department to better serve Memphis, this advancement equips first responders with new technological capabilities and reliable access to critical information in the field and in the station.

FirstNet is delivering interoperable communications across public safety entities nationwide, allowing first responders to communicate with one another easily and quickly during everyday situations, big events and emergencies. This is integral to solving the communications challenges public safety has experienced in the past.

Memphis Police is using FirstNet on department-issued phones and tablets and in cameras strategically placed throughout the city to provide communication in the field and visual awareness. Routers are also available for the department’s vehicles to maintain connectivity during operations.

“The high level of network capacity provided by FirstNet allows our officers to stay better connected across the city,” said Chief Cerelyn Davis, Memphis Police Department. “Whether we are deployed for large events like the St. Jude Marathon and Memphis in May, working through storms, or responding to daily calls, FirstNet allows us to have the priority and preemption that keeps our officers and our communities safer.  We look forward to the future with FirstNet and how it evolves to suit the needs of public safety.”

Memphis Police has also been able to utilize FirstNet deployable assets such as the Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD) and Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) during local incident responses. Providing extra connectivity, these assets allowed the department to have no interruption of operations in the field, keeping officers and the community safer.

Memphis Police joined FirstNet to provide first responders access to an entire public safety ecosystem of mission-ready tools and capabilities, including:

• Always-on priority and preemption to give first responders reliable access to the connection they need– and protect them from network congestion.
• A separate, dedicated and highly secure network core purpose-built for public safety and its sensitive communications.
• Innovative tools – public safety-centric innovative applications, mission-critical solutions and smart connected device options – to give public safety the actionable information and heightened situational awareness they need.
• A dedicated fleet of 150+ deployable network assets public safety agencies can call upon for additional connectivity at no extra charge during planned events, urgent crises and operations in remote areas— a unique benefit to the industry. 
• Access to holistic public safety health and wellness tools and resources, like ROG the Dog, that go beyond network connectivity— all powered by the FirstNet Health & Wellness Coalition, which represents more than 5.1 million first responders.

“We’re honored that Memphis Police chose FirstNet to improve its communications technology and connectivity,” said Joelle Phillips, President, AT&T Tennessee. “As public safety’s partner, we believe it is our mission to give public safety the cutting-edge tools they need to keep our communities safe. FirstNet will help first responders in Tennessee and across the country perform at the highest levels to keep themselves and those they serve out of harm’s way.”

“FirstNet is the only broadband network built for public safety, by public safety,” said Jeremy Zollo, Assistant Executive Director and Chief Public Safety Advocacy Officer, FirstNet Authority. “We look forward to working with Memphis PD to make sure FirstNet continues to deliver the coverage and innovation they need to serve communities in the Midwest and help save lives.”

To learn more, visit Memphis Police.

What is FirstNet? FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. It is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government. The FirstNet network provides first responders with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption, and high-quality Band 14 spectrum. These advanced capabilities help fire, EMS and law enforcement save lives and protect their communities.

Where can I find more information? For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com. And go here for more FirstNet news. 

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Note: AT&T’s third-quarter earnings conference call will be webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 19, 2023. The webcast and related materials, including financial highlights, will be available on AT&T’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.att.com.

Consolidated Financial Results

Revenues for the third quarter totaled $30.4 billion versus $30.0 billion in the year-ago quarter, up 1.0%. This increase primarily reflects higher Mobility, Mexico and Consumer Wireline revenues, partly offset by lower Business Wireline revenues. Revenue increases also reflect favorable impacts of foreign exchange rates in Mexico.

Operating expenses were $24.6 billion versus $24.0 billion in the year-ago quarter, reflecting higher severance and restructuring charges and continued inflationary cost increases in the third quarter of 2023, partially offset by continued transformation efforts. Operating expense increases also reflect increased depreciation expense, higher network costs, unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates, and increased amortization of deferred customer acquisition costs. These increases were partially offset by lower Mobility equipment and associated selling costs from lower wireless sales volumes, and lower personnel costs.

Operating income was $5.8 billion versus $6.0 billion in the year-ago quarter. When adjusting for certain items, adjusted operating income* was $6.5 billion versus $6.2 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The company now expects full-year Adjusted EBITDA* growth of better than 4%, versus prior guidance of 3%+.

Equity in net income of affiliates was $0.4 billion, primarily from the DIRECTV investment. With an adjustment for our proportionate share of intangible amortization, adjusted equity in net income from the DIRECTV investment^* was $0.7 billion.

Income from continuing operations was $3.8 billion, versus $6.3 billion in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations² was $0.48 versus $0.79 in the year-ago quarter. Adjusting for $0.16, which includes severance and restructuring charges, an impairment of an equity investment in a Latin America satellite business, our proportionate share of intangible amortization from the DIRECTV equity method investment and an actuarial gain on benefit plans and other items, earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations^* was $0.64 compared to $0.68 in the year-ago quarter. 

Cash from operating activities from continuing operations was $10.3 billion, up $0.2 billion year over year, reflecting operational growth and timing of working capital, including lower device payments partially offset by a lower net impact from receivable sales. Capital expenditures were $4.6 billion in the quarter versus $5.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. Capital investment^*, which includes $1.0 billion of cash payments for vendor financing, totaled $5.6 billion.

Free cash flow^* was $5.2 billion for the quarter. Total debt was $138.0 billion at the end of the quarter, and net debt^* was $128.7 billion. The company expects to achieve net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA* in the 2.5x range in the first half of 2025.

Communications Operational Highlights

Third-quarter revenues were $29.2 billion, up 0.4% year over year due to increases in Mobility and Consumer Wireline, which more than offset a decline in Business Wireline. Operating income was $7.3 billion, up 4.1% year over year, with operating income margin of 24.9%, compared to 24.0% in the year-ago quarter.

Mobility

• Revenues were up 2.0% year over year to $20.7 billion due to higher service revenues. Service revenues were $15.9 billion, up 3.7% year over year, primarily driven by subscriber and postpaid phone ARPU growth. Equipment revenues were $4.8 billion, down 3.2% year over year due to lower device volumes.
• Operating expenses were $13.9 billion, down 0.9% year over year, primarily due to lower equipment costs and associated selling expenses driven by lower device sales, partly offset by higher network and customer support costs, increased amortization of deferred customer acquisition costs and higher depreciation expense.
• Operating income was $6.8 billion, up 8.6% year over year. Operating income margin was 32.7%, compared to 30.7% in the year-ago quarter.
• EBITDA^* was $8.9 billion, up 7.6% year over year with EBITDA margin^* of 43.0%, up from 40.8% in the year-ago quarter. This was the company’s best-ever quarterly Mobility EBITDA*. EBITDA service margin^* was 55.9%, up from 53.9% in the year-ago quarter.
• Total wireless net adds were 6.6 million, including:
• 550,000 postpaid net adds with:
• 468,000 postpaid phone net adds
• (48,000) postpaid tablet and other branded computing device net losses
• 130,000 other net adds
• 26,000 prepaid phone net adds
• Postpaid churn improved to 0.95% versus 1.01% in the year-ago quarter.
• Postpaid phone churn improved to 0.79% versus 0.84% in the year-ago quarter.
• Prepaid churn was 2.78%, with Cricket substantially lower, versus 2.83% in the year-ago quarter.
• Postpaid phone ARPU was $55.99, up 0.6% versus the year-ago quarter, due to pricing actions, higher international roaming and a mix shift to higher-priced unlimited plans.
• FirstNet connections reached about 5.3 million across nearly 27,000 agencies. FirstNet is the nationwide communications platform dedicated to public safety. The AT&T and FirstNet networks cover more than 99% of the U.S. population, and FirstNet covers more first responders than any other network in America.

Business Wireline

• Revenues were $5.2 billion, down 7.9% year over year due to lower demand for legacy voice and data services and product simplification, partly offset by growth in connectivity services. This quarter also included approximately $100 million in revenues from intellectual property sales, which were relatively consistent with the prior year.
• Operating expenses were $4.9 billion, down 3.5% year over year due to lower personnel costs associated with ongoing transformation initiatives, and lower wholesale network access, customer support and marketing expenses.
• Operating income was $350 million, down 43.6%, with operating income margin of 6.7% compared to 11.0% in the year-ago quarter.
• EBITDA^* was $1.7 billion, down 13.7% year over year with EBITDA margin^* of 32.5%, compared to 34.6% in the year-ago quarter. The company now expects full-year Business Wireline EBITDA* declines in the low-double digits, versus prior guidance of high-single digit declines.
• AT&T Business serves the largest global companies, government agencies and small businesses. More than 800,000 U.S. business buildings are lit with fiber from AT&T, enabling high-speed fiber connections to approximately 3.3 million U.S. business customer locations. Nationwide, more than 10 million business customer locations are on or within 1,000 feet of our fiber.³

Consumer Wireline

• Revenues were $3.3 billion, up 4.6% year over year due to gains in broadband more than offsetting declines in legacy voice and data and other services. Broadband revenues increased 9.8% due to fiber growth of 26.9%, partly offset by a 9.0% decline in non-fiber revenues. The company now expects full-year broadband revenue growth of 7%+, versus prior guidance of 5%+.
• Operating expenses were $3.2 billion, up 4.2% year over year due to higher depreciation expense and higher network-related costs, partly offset by lower customer support costs.
• Operating income was $160 million, up 12.7% year over year with operating income margin of 4.8%, compared to 4.5% in the year-ago quarter.
• EBITDA^* was $1.0 billion, up 9.4% year over year with EBITDA margin^* of 31.0%, up from 29.6% in the year-ago quarter.
• Total broadband net gains, excluding DSL and including AT&T Internet Air, were 15,000, reflecting AT&T Fiber net adds of 296,000, more than offsetting losses in non-fiber services. AT&T Fiber is now capable of serving 20.7 million customer locations and offers symmetrical, multi-gig speeds across parts of its entire footprint of more than 100 metro areas.

Latin America – Mexico Operational Highlights

Revenues were $992 million, up 26.4% year over year due to growth in both service and equipment revenues. Service revenues were $672 million, up 20.2% year over year, driven by favorable foreign exchange and essentially stable subscriber and wholesale revenues. Equipment revenues were $320 million, up 41.6% year over year due to higher sales and favorable foreign exchange.

Operating loss was ($29) million compared to ($63) million in the year-ago quarter. EBITDA^* was $155 million compared to $101 million in the year-ago quarter.

Total wireless net adds were 65,000, including 17,000 prepaid net adds, 55,000 postpaid net adds and 7,000 reseller net losses.

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Slow progress at first

Getting to that October launch in Chicago wasn’t easy. Way back in 1947, AT&T researcher Douglas Ring drafted the first concept for a cellular network – with calls automatically handed off from one “cell” to the next as callers moved from Point A to Point B.

It was a visionary idea. But the microprocessors and electronic switching needed to make it a reality wouldn’t come along for a few more decades.

Rapid innovation ever since

Compared to that slow start, what’s happened since in wireless is like a roller coaster ride of fast, continuous innovation. Here’s why: Since 1983, AT&T has invested untold brainpower plus hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade the network time and again.

Each time our network becomes more capable, major economic and technological benefits follow. You might think of that pioneering call in Chicago as the first page in an ongoing success story of network innovation fueling growth, productivity, new applications and the digital economy itself.

Each network “generation” is a force multiplier, enabling new technologies and helping to fuel economic prosperity.

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What are people saying? “We are privileged to partner with AT&T on a comprehensive, dynamic effort to inspire, prepare, and empower Latinos – from students to parents who are Spanish-dominant and other learners – with critical tools, resources, and information to narrow the digital divide,” said Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “Beyond the tremendous investment of $1 million, AT&T is also investing in our community by sharing their knowledge, their platforms like The Achievery, and their human capital through volunteers. The ‘Connected Learning’ initiative by AT&T is appropriate because if you’re not connected – you can’t learn, work or explore possibilities.”  

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has a longstanding reputation of identifying key issues within the community, inspiring critical change, preparing future leaders and connecting the community to essential resources,” said Mylayna Albright, assistant vice president of corporate social responsibility, AT&T. “As stewards of our communities, we are extremely proud to work with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to help bridge the digital divide. Because at AT&T, we wholeheartedly believe that connection is the bridge to possibility. And as such, we see it as vital that ALL communities have the access, affordability and the ability to adopt essential digital literacy and learning skills.” 

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is driving real impact in the Hispanic community,” said Michelle Jordan, chief diversity officer, AT&T. “Through our collaboration, we’re empowering children and adults with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an increasingly digital world.” 

Learn more at AT&T Connected Learning.

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What’s the news? For the third consecutive year, AT&T* ranks number one in customer satisfaction for business wireless service delivered to large enterprise customers, announced today in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Business Wireless Satisfaction Study¹. This distinction complements our July 2023 ranking with J.D. Power as #1 for customer satisfaction for large enterprise business wireline service.

Why is this important? Businesses today are mobile-first and looking for reliable, secure wireless connectivity delivered and supported by experts who understand the needs of their business operations. Connectivity enables businesses to work more efficiently and create new opportunities for not only staff, but also for potential and existing customers – whether fiber or 5G, our wireless and wireline networks power business productivity and innovations.

Why AT&T? When it comes to performance, security, scalability, simplicity and value, AT&T delivers. AT&T has a long history of successfully working with some of the largest multinational corporations to identify new and effective ways to manage their connectivity needs. As technology continues to evolve and adapt to new ways of shaping business operations, AT&T remains at the forefront of developing the way technologies such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are used to help businesses thrive.

What are people saying? “Continuing to be recognized for providing top-ranked business wireless service to large enterprises is industry acknowledgement of our commitment to being the best at serving the wireless needs of businesses and organizations around the world,” said Rick Welday, executive vice president and general manager, Enterprise Markets, AT&T.  “We are proud to once again receive this honor from J.D. Power and look forward to providing excellent wireless and wireline connectivity for even more businesses in the years ahead.”

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Why is this important? With Disney Character Clicks, Disney and AT&T* underscore a joint commitment to connecting others through new and unique experiences. With 5G connectivity expanding, AT&T in collaboration with Disney is able to connect guests through new digital experiences, using rapidly emerging technologies like augmented reality. Whether it’s on-site at Walt Disney World Resort or sharing exciting photos with friends and family across the country, Disney and AT&T strive to connect people and create new, long-lasting memories.

What are people saying? “Disney PhotoPass Service is always looking for new ways to create unique photo experiences for guests to take home cherished vacation memories. Disney Character Clicks combines collaboration and technology to give our guests at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort a new way to capture memories with some of their favorite characters,” said Dan Hamer-Hodges, director of digital experience of Disney PhotoPass Service.

“It’s always a joy to collaborate with companies like Disney to push the boundaries of our 5G connectivity and use it in ways that directly impact guests in a tangible, positive way,” said Michael Colaneri, vice president of global business, retail and enterprise solutions, AT&T Business. “We look forward to continuing to create memorable experiences with Disney and identifying new ways to enhance the theme park experience through technology.