• AT&T is working to keep customers connected during this year’s total solar eclipse.
• From 5G to Fiber, the AT&T Network is prepared to handle more traffic than ever. Our network handles 680 petabytes of traffic on an average business day, and we’re ready for customers to share their solar eclipse moments!  

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, giving our headquarters in Dallas, TX a front row seat to watch this historical moment. Be sure to check back for our latest updates on all things eclipse-related.

Will our customers experience issues with cellular service during the eclipse?

We understand the importance of keeping our customers connected and we continue to monitor our network around the clock. The eclipse itself will have no direct operational impact on our wireless network.   

Our network has drastically changed since the last solar eclipse in 2017. Our customers now have the benefit of AT&T 5G which provides unique experiences, faster speeds and capacity to do more of the things our customers like. We expanded our 5G network to reach more than 295 million people in nearly 24,500 cities and towns in the U.S. Our higher-speed mid-band 5G+ spectrum alone covers more than 210 million people. Our bandwidth has increased significantly in the last few years, and users have an improved experience on our network as a result. 

Will there be impacts to FirstNet customers?

The FirstNet Response Operations Group (ROG) will continue to support emergency communications for first responders and is prepared to deploy redundant, backup connectivity solutions.

FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, is the nation’s public safety network. Agencies on FirstNet have 24/7 access to a dedicated fleet of 180+ land-based and airborne assets, all at no additional charge. No other provider has deployable network assets dedicated solely and exclusively to public safety. 

Would photographing or recording the eclipse have the potential to damage a cell phone? (view less)

For more information on smartphone photography of the eclipse, we encourage customers to follow guidelines from NASA and their phone manufacturer.

Where to watch the Solar Eclipse

The Solar Eclipse can be seen best anywhere across the path of totality. If you’re in Dallas, the AT&T Discovery District is hosting a free, citywide Solar Eclipse Watch Party on April 8^th that’s open to the public and AT&T employees. Attendees will have a premier viewing location in the District and the opportunity to listen to a panel discussion featuring educational speakers including NASA. Free viewing glasses will be given to the first 4,000 people in attendance and guests can enjoy eclipse-themed food and drink items from nearby restaurants.

Historical Eclipses

Looking back at our own history we can identify a few eclipses, like when we launched the first commercial cellular telephone service with what we would consider “1G” in 1983, then introduced the 2G standard 10 years later, enabling text messaging. At AT&T, we believe each network generation is a force multiplier, and for more than 144 years, our inventors, visionaries and service-centered employees have helped us play a big role in technology’s constant evolution.

In the spirit of this moment, we’re reflecting on 10 historical “eclipses” that continue to inspire us today: 

• Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, surpassing all previous methods of communication, such as telegraphy and letter writing. This transformed society, allowing people to speak to one another across vast distances. 
• Katherine Johnson played a crucial role in NASA’s early 1960’s space missions, including the first American manned spaceflight and the Apollo 11 moon landing, breaking gender and racial barriers in the STEM fields. She was the first woman in her division to receive credit as an author of a research report, authoring or coauthoring 26 reports during her career.  
• In 1968, AT&T-owned Bell System announced the adoption of 9-1-1 as the nationwide emergency telephone number, establishing a quicker way for people to reach first responders. Eclipsing our previous advancements, we were selected by the First Responder Network Authority in 2017 to build and manage FirstNet – the only network built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community.  
• In 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, surpassing all previous achievements in space exploration.  
• Apple released the first MacBook in 2006, a significant advancement in laptop technology eclipsing other computer brands.  
• In 2017, Serena Williams earned her 23^rd Grand Slam singles title, the most of any player in the Open era.  
• In February 2023, Lebron James broke the NBA career points record with his 38,388^th point, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the record for 39 years.
• Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” were both released on July 21, 2023, igniting a box office showdown. While there is some debate over who “won” the industry-revitalizing moment, Barbie eclipsed Oppenheimer in total sales, grossing more than $1.44 billion of the $2.39 billion combined total as of Dec. 2023. 
• Taylor Swift spent 68 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 with the release of her album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in 2023, surpassing Elvis Presley as the soloist with the most weeks spent at No. 1. 
• Caitlyn Clark broke the Women’s NCAA scoring record in 2024 surpassing 7-year record holder Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 career points. She broke Plum’s record in 13 less games.  

As a committed leader in innovation, AT&T continues to enable new technologies that eclipse the previous generation, opening up new possibilities for tomorrow.