T · Earnings call · 2026Q3T · Full report

Copper Network Transition

AT&T INC. · 2026-10-21 · Importance 40 · Surprise 42 · In source text

AT&T is accelerating its exit from legacy copper-based services and migrating customers to AT&T Phone – Advanced, AT&T Fiber, and Internet Air. It is on track to discontinue copper-based services in 50% of wire centers outside California by the end of 2027 and substantially all of them by the end of 2029. Management described the transition as a source of cost and complexity reduction and said copper retirement is part of its plan to achieve $4 billion in annual consolidated cost savings by the end of 2028.

Key facts

• AT&T is on track to discontinue copper-based services in 50% of its wire centers outside California by the end of 2027 and substantially all of them by the end of 2029.
• AT&T's Legacy segment service revenues declined approximately 25% year over year, and the company expects continued declines of 20%+ as it retires copper services and migrates customers.
• AT&T has more than 100 wire centers with no customers supported by legacy services.

Impact estimates