Recently, AT&T CEO John Stankey joined leaders from Ford and FedEx, among other leading companies, at the Ford Pro Accelerate Conference in Detroit to discuss the “essential economy.”
The event centered on the industries and businesses that keep our communities running—transportation, logistics, construction and countless others. While large enterprises often dominate headlines, the essential economy is powered just as much by small and midsized businesses.
For AT&T, this conversation goes beyond connectivity, which is at the heart of our work, to enabling small and midsized businesses to thrive in a world where data, AI and mobility are redefining how work gets done.
As John said from the stage, AT&T’s role in this transformation begins with the networks we build. Over the past 5 years (between 2020 to 2024), AT&T invested more than $145 billion in our wireless and wireline networks, including capital investments and acquisitions of wireless spectrum. This transformative investment of capital makes it possible for businesses to stay connected and productive.
“Our job is to make sure that capacity gets out to people in an easy fashion,” said John. And now, with AI applied to connectivity, we can bring smarter tools to the point where work happens, whether you’re a fleet manager, a technician or a small business owner.
For SMBs, complexity is the enemy. Business owners don’t want to become IT experts; they want solutions that just work. That’s why AT&T is focused on removing friction and delivering secure, easy-to-use connected solutions across industries and within American cities and neighborhoods.
From connectivity that powers factory floors to IoT-enabled fleet management for delivery companies, our solutions help businesses:
- Get connected anywhere with our converged network
- Safeguard data built-in security that doesn’t require a full IT team
- Make smarter decisions by turning data into insights
John summarized it best: If you don’t make it simple and straightforward, it won’t be the solution somebody chooses to use.
So what does this look like in action? Picture a construction company using AT&T IoT to track equipment in real time, reducing downtime and theft. Or a local delivery service optimizing routes and monitoring driver safety with fleet solutions. And for the cities and companies using smart sensors to monitor temperature in server rooms, cold storage, customer satisfaction, and water leaks. These aren’t future concepts — they’re real-world innovations happening today, powered by AT&T’s Connected Solutions portfolio.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of American business — and a critical part of the essential economy. That is why AT&T is committed to helping them succeed. By combining network strength, smart technology and accessible tools, we’re building solutions that make businesses more productive, resilient and ready for what’s next.
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