From CNET: AT&T met analysts expectation in its latest earnings report, even as struggles continued around the company's U-Verse and DirecTV video unit.
The technology giant added 335,000 phone users, the bulk of which coming for the company's prepaid side. AT&T says it added 72,000 postpaid users, the more lucrative consumers that sign up for its traditional monthly wireless service. By comparison, in the first quarter of the year, the company added 179,000 phone users of which 80,000 were postpaid.
Utilizing its deployment of FirstNet, a wireless network for first responders, AT&T says it has been able to upgrade its traditional wireless network and get it ready for 5G, which it plans to make commercially available nationwide during the first half of 2020.
"The wireless side of the house, we're feeling more and more confident every day," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T's chairman and CEO in a call with investors. Stephenson says the company has built out 60% of its FirstNet network thus far.
The growth in mobile comes as its more premium DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse continue to shed users for its traditional satellite, cable and streaming DirecTV Now services. AT&T said it lost 778,000 premium video users, with an additional 168,000 users disconnecting from DirecTV Now as the company rolled out fewer promotions.
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