After spending $4.4 billion to acquire Mexican wireless carrier Iusacell and Nextel Mexico, AT&T announced that it will invest $3 billion to expand wireless coverage to 100 million people in Mexico by the end of 2018.
“We plan to deliver high-quality, high-speed mobile Internet service to Mexico, creating the first-ever North American Mobile Service Area covering 400 million people and businesses in Mexico and the U.S. This seamless network will link together our two countries’ economies, people and cultures like never before,” said Chairman and President of AT&T, Randall Stephenson.
The news comes after Stephenson met with Mexican President Peña Nieto about how AT&T plans to move ahead.
AT&T said it expects the first phase of its build-out will be complete in the next six months and cover 40 million Mexicans, about one-third of the population. By the end of 2016, the carrier expects to cover 75 million people, with an end goal of 100 million people by year-end 2018.
Along with the build-out, AT&T will offer customers in Mexico new plans and features.
AT&T closed its $2.5 billion Iusacell acquistion back in January, and Nextel Mexico in May.