Executives Share AT&T/Verizon Wireless Investment Plans

Although AT&T and Verizon have largely completed the build-out of their LTE networks, both companies expect to continue to invest in other aspects of their wireless networks, said executives of the two companies.

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said spectrum and distributed antennas systems will be key wireless investment areas for Verizon. John Donovan, AT&T's Senior Executive Director of Technology and Operations, focused on changing network dynamics and how the company plans to respond to those dynamics. Two key network dynamics impacting AT&T’s plans are growth in video traffic and growth in Internet of Things traffic, Donovan said, also noting that “the Internet of Things is the polar opposite of video” in terms of network impact.” Asked about 5G wireless, Donovan said the biggest challenge won’t be determining what technology to use but when to begin major work on it. If a company starts too early it risks overspending. But if it waits too long, it could put itself at a competitive disadvantage, he added.