AT&T Inc.

What does AT&T own?
AT&T owns and operates telecommunications services under its primary brand, including AT&T Wireless (mobile phone services with over 100 million subscribers), AT&T Fiber (broadband internet passing 30 million-plus locations), AT&T Business (enterprise solutions), and Cricket Wireless (prepaid wireless). The company sold its remaining 70 percent stake in DirecTV to TPG in July 2025 and no longer owns or operates DirecTV. AT&T also owns extensive network infrastructure including cell towers, fiber optic cables, and spectrum licenses.

Is AT&T publicly traded?
Yes. AT&T is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol T. The company has been publicly traded since its modern formation in 1983. AT&T is one of the most widely held stocks in the United States and is a component of major stock indices.

Who founded AT&T?
AT&T was founded by Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone and established the Bell Patent Association in 1876. The modern AT&T was created through decades of mergers and acquisitions, most notably the 2005 merger between SBC Communications and the original AT&T.

Where is AT&T headquartered?
AT&T is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, in the Whitacre Tower. The company relocated to Dallas from San Antonio in 2008 and maintains major offices, network operations centers, and research facilities across the United States.

How many brands does AT&T own?
AT&T operates primarily under the AT&T master brand with sub-brands for specific service lines. The company's main brands include AT&T Wireless, AT&T Fiber, AT&T Internet, AT&T Business, and Cricket Wireless. Unlike consumer goods conglomerates, AT&T uses its corporate name as the primary brand identifier across virtually all services.

Who owns AT&T?
AT&T is publicly owned with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors collectively hold the majority of outstanding shares, with major holders including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors. No individual, family, or private equity firm holds a controlling interest.

What is AT&T's revenue?
AT&T reported total revenue of 110.2 billion dollars for fiscal year 2025, down from 122.4 billion dollars in FY2024. The revenue decline reflects the divestiture of DirecTV and other non-core assets. The company generates revenue primarily from wireless services and broadband services.

Does AT&T still own DirecTV?
No. AT&T completed the sale of its remaining 70 percent stake in DirecTV to TPG in July 2025 for approximately 7.6 billion dollars. AT&T no longer owns or operates DirecTV or any satellite television business.

What was the AT&T data breach?
In 2024, AT&T experienced a data breach when call and text records of approximately 109 million customers were stolen from a third-party cloud platform. The company paid approximately 370,000 dollars to a hacker to delete the stolen data. The breach led to multiple class-action lawsuits and regulatory investigations.

AT&T traces its origins to 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and founded the Bell Patent Association in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was formally incorporated as the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1885, growing rapidly through the late 19th and early 20th centuries to become a monopoly in U.S. telecommunications.

The company's early decades were marked by rapid expansion and technological innovation. AT&T developed the transcontinental telephone line in 1915, established Bell Laboratories as a research division in 1925, and built one of the most extensive telecommunications networks in the world. By the mid-20th century, AT&T provided virtually all telephone service in the United States through its regulated monopoly status.

In 1982, AT&T agreed to break up its monopoly as part of antitrust proceedings, creating seven Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) in the largest corporate reorganization in American history at that time. The breakup took effect in 1984, with the parent company retaining long distance services, manufacturing through Western Electric, and research operations through Bell Labs.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, AT&T rebuilt its business through acquisitions and strategic investments. The company acquired NCR Corporation in 1991 for 7.4 billion dollars, though this acquisition proved challenging and was later spun off. AT&T also entered new markets while maintaining its core telecommunications business, though it faced increasing competition in long distance services.

A pivotal moment came in 2005 when AT&T was acquired by SBC Communications, one of the largest RBOCs, in a 16 billion dollar deal. The merger was structured as SBC acquiring AT&T but adopting the AT&T name and brand, effectively reuniting much of the original AT&T company. This created a new AT&T with significant wireless and wireline operations across the United States.

In 2006, the newly formed AT&T acquired BellSouth for approximately 86 billion dollars, completing the reunification of the original AT&T company's core operations and giving AT&T full ownership of Cingular Wireless. The company continued to expand through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Time Warner in 2018 for 85.4 billion dollars, marking a major diversification into media and entertainment.

The Time Warner acquisition proved challenging, and in 2022 AT&T spun off WarnerMedia in a 43 billion dollar deal that combined the media assets with Discovery Inc. This divestiture allowed AT&T to focus on its core telecommunications business and reduce the substantial debt incurred from the Time Warner purchase.

In July 2025, AT&T completed the sale of its remaining 70 percent stake in DirecTV to TPG for approximately 7.6 billion dollars, ending its involvement in the satellite television business. This divestiture was part of a broader strategy to focus exclusively on wireless and fiber broadband services.

Throughout the 2020s, AT&T has focused on 5G network deployment and fiber-optic expansion. The company has invested billions in 5G infrastructure using both C-band and millimeter wave spectrum. AT&T's 5G network covers more than 200 million people across the United States. The fiber network has been expanded to pass more than 30 million locations, competing directly with cable broadband providers including Comcast and Charter Communications.

In 2024, AT&T experienced a significant data breach when call and text records of approximately 109 million customers were stolen from a third-party cloud platform. The company paid approximately 370,000 dollars to a hacker to delete the stolen data and provide evidence of deletion. The breach led to multiple class-action lawsuits and regulatory investigations.

AT&T is a signatory to the Science Based Targets initiative and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality for its global operations by 2035, with an interim target of reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 65 percent by 2030 against a 2019 baseline.

In 2024, AT&T reported that it had reduced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 47 percent against its 2019 baseline, ahead of its interim target schedule. Renewable electricity represented approximately 65 percent of total electricity usage in 2024.

AT&T has committed to bridging the digital divide through initiatives including the AT&T Connected Learning program, which provides internet access and technology resources to underserved communities. The company has invested in digital literacy programs and affordable broadband options for low-income households.

AT&T is not a Certified B Corporation. The company publishes an annual Sustainability Report with independently assured performance data covering environmental, social, and governance metrics.

AT&T has received recognition for corporate responsibility and sustainability leadership.

• Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America: Named for multiple consecutive years, assessed by S&P Global for ESG performance
• CDP Climate Leadership: A- ratings for climate change disclosure and action
• Ethisphere Institute: Recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies multiple times
• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies: Included in the telecommunications industry ranking
• Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index: Perfect scores for LGBTQ+ workplace equality for over a decade

AT&T has faced significant regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges throughout its history, particularly related to data privacy, market dominance, and labor disputes.

In 2024, AT&T experienced a major data breach when call and text records of approximately 109 million customers were stolen from a third-party cloud platform hosted on Snowflake. The company paid approximately 370,000 dollars to a hacker to delete the stolen data and provide evidence of deletion. The breach led to multiple class-action lawsuits and an FCC investigation. The incident raised questions about AT&T's data security practices and its reliance on third-party cloud providers.

In 2024, the FCC fined AT&T and other major telecommunications carriers for allegedly failing to protect the geolocation data of subscribers, violating Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) regulations. The enforcement actions highlighted ongoing concerns about privacy practices in the telecommunications sector.

In 2025, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the FCC, rejecting its authority to classify broadband as a Title II telecommunications service. This decision removed net neutrality protections for all internet service providers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The ruling was seen as a victory for broadband providers but drew criticism from consumer advocacy groups.

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice sued to block AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner, arguing the deal would harm competition. The federal government lost the case in court, allowing the merger to proceed. AT&T later spun off WarnerMedia in 2022, effectively undoing the acquisition.

Labor disputes have been another area of public scrutiny. AT&T has faced strikes and labor actions by unionized workers, particularly through the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, over wages, benefits, and working conditions. These disputes have occasionally led to service disruptions.

AT&T faced criticism for carrying the One America News Network (OAN) on its platforms. The company eventually dropped OAN following public pressure and advertiser boycotts related to controversial content and election misinformation claims.