AT&T’s global network is now carrying an average of one exabyte of data every day, highlighting the scale of growth in digital connectivity and data consumption worldwide.
The milestone represents an increase of more than 1,000 percent over the past decade, underscoring how rapidly network demand has expanded with the rise of streaming, cloud computing, mobile applications, and enterprise digital transformation, AT&T’s Robert Walters (SVP – Network Planning, Construction & Engineering) and Mike Satterlee (VP – Network Core Infrastructure) said in a blog post.
For decades, AT&T has played a central role in connecting consumers and businesses, steadily expanding and upgrading its network infrastructure. That long-term investment has resulted in a network capable of moving around one billion gigabytes of data on an average day, reflecting both the growing reliance on digital services and the increasing complexity of modern traffic patterns.
Putting One Exabyte Into Perspective
An exabyte is an almost unimaginable volume of data. It is equivalent to streaming billions of hours of video or trillions of music tracks. Another way to view it is as downloading every book ever written thousands of times over, every single day. Streaming high-definition video nonstop would take more than 32,000 years to reach a single exabyte.
Every photo, video, email, message, and enterprise workload transmitted by customers contributes to this total. Managing such volumes requires a network that is not only powerful, but also highly reliable and secure, particularly as businesses depend on real-time connectivity and consumers expect uninterrupted digital experiences.
AT&T attributes this capability to the scale of its wireless and fiber footprint across North America, combined with ongoing performance improvements in speed, reliability, and overall network efficiency.
A Decade of Extraordinary Growth
The growth trajectory highlights how quickly data usage has accelerated. Around ten years ago, AT&T’s network carried approximately 91 petabytes of data per day. Reaching the exabyte threshold marks more than a 1,000 percent increase over the past decade and over an 11,000 percent rise compared with traffic levels twenty years ago.
This surge has been driven by multiple factors, including video streaming, remote and hybrid work, cloud services, Internet of Things deployments, and the rapid adoption of smartphones and connected devices. In 2025, AT&T reported particularly strong growth as usage patterns continued to evolve across both consumer and enterprise segments.
Investing in the Future of Connectivity
Looking ahead, AT&T expects data demand to continue climbing as artificial intelligence, edge computing, and advanced digital services gain traction. The company is focusing on sustained investment in next-generation infrastructure, including fiber expansion and 5G network upgrades, to support higher speeds, lower latency, and improved reliability.
By strengthening its core network and expanding coverage, AT&T aims to position itself to meet future connectivity needs while supporting economic growth and digital inclusion. As data volumes continue to scale, the company’s strategy centers on building networks that can support faster, smarter, and more accessible connectivity for consumers and businesses.
SHAFANA FAZAL