9月29日：AT&T宣布与康宁签署了一份价值超过30亿美元的多年期合作协议，采购光纤和电缆，以扩展其网络，满足不断增长的数据需求。
Sept 29 : AT&T on Tuesday said it had signed a multi-year deal worth more than $3 billion with Corning to procure fiber and cable, as the telecom giant expands its network to meet surging demand for data. Corning shares rose 3.3 per cent in premarket trading.
随着无线市场的成熟和互联网使用量的激增，光纤网络的建设已成为电信行业的重要增长领域。
Fiber network build-out has emerged as a critical growth area for the telecom industry as the wireless market matures and internet usage surges.
对数据密集型服务（包括人工智能工作负载、云计算和联网设备）的需求不断增加，这推动了对更快、更可靠、更具可扩展性的光纤网络的需求。
Growing demand for data-intensive services, including AI workloads, cloud computing and connected devices, is increasing the need for faster, more resilient and scalable fiber networks.
AT&T表示，目前平均每个使用其光纤服务的家庭每月的数据使用量已超过1太字节，是2016年的5倍，并预计这一数字还会继续上升。
"The average AT&T Fiber household now uses more than 1 terabyte each month, 5x more than in 2016. And that number is expected to keep climbing," AT&T said.
光纤也被视为电信公司的关键组成部分，因为它能够快速传输从视频通话和电影流媒体到人工智能工具等各种服务所需的数据。
Fiber is also seen as a critical component for telecom companies because it can quickly carry data for services ranging from video calls and movie streaming to AI tools.
该公司计划在未来十年内将光纤服务覆盖范围扩大到6000万个地点，作为其数十亿美元基础设施扩建计划的一部分。
The company expects aims to reach 60 million fiber locations by the end of the decade as part of its multi-billion dollar infrastructure expansion.
AT&T以57.5亿美元收购Lumen的光纤业务进一步扩展了其光纤网络覆盖范围，并承诺在未来五年内投入超过2500亿美元用于加强美国的连接基础设施。
Its $5.75 billion acquisition of Lumen's fiber business has further expanded its fiber footprint. The company has committed more than $250 billion over five years to strengthen US connectivity infrastructure.