Technology

AT&T Makes $19 Billion Commitment to Bring High-Speed Connectivity to California

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2026

AT&T is modernizing California’s network, moving away from aging copper infrastructure, to deliver reliable, affordable, always-on connectivity for customers statewide, supporting the next era of innovation and growth

Key Takeaways:

We’re committing to invest $19 billion in California through 2030 to connect more Californians to the best and largest network and upgrade customers to better products to meet our customers’ needs for fast, reliable connectivity as we transition from aging copper networks in the state.We’re bringing fiber – the best internet technology – to 4 million+ additional households and businesses and strengthening our wireless coverage with more than 1,200 new cell sites across California by 2030, meeting customers’ demand for reliable, affordable, always-on connectivity across urban, suburban and rural California.Paired with smart federal modernization policy, we’re strengthening and modernizing our network, hiring hundreds of technicians across the state, and investing in California’s communities.We’re beginning the process to upgrade our customers in parts of California to fiber and wireless service and discontinue energy inefficient copper-based services. We’re taking a thoughtful, phased approach to upgrade customers. No customer will be left without access to phone or 911 service.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T is proud to commit $19 billion of investment in California’s fiber and wireless networks by the end of 2030, building the high-speed connectivity required for the next era of innovation and economic growth in the state. With updated federal policies that enable network modernization, we’re making our largest-ever infrastructure investment commitment in the state and investing $3 billion more in the next five years (2026-2030) than the previous five (2021-2025) – reaching $35 billion invested over 10 years (2021-2030) in California’s network. In addition to the $19 billion investment, we’re committed to offering affordable options to help Californians get connected, strengthening our workforce statewide, and partnering with organizations across the state focused on closing the digital divide.

With more advanced connectivity options for Californians, we are beginning the process to upgrade our customers to fiber and wireless services and discontinue energy inefficient copper-based services – like traditional phone service – in parts of the state on or after June 1, 2027. Only 3% of households we serve in California still use traditional phone service. We’re taking a phased, year-long approach to upgrade customers in these areas where better, more reliable services are available. Transitioning from copper also allows further investment in more modern services.

“Californians depend on and expect fast, reliable connectivity every day and AT&T is committed to delivering it,” said Susan Santana, state president of AT&T California. “With recent, forward-looking federal network modernization policies, we’re able to make our largest-ever California investment commitment ($19 billion) as we transition away from copper networks. As the largest fiber builder in the state, this expands future-ready ﬁber and wireless services at affordable prices and modernizes copper networks. By investing in newer, more reliable technology, we can deliver better service, reach more customers, improve our communities, and support California’s economy for years to come.”

Deploying Affordable, Always-On Connectivity for the Future
Copper networks are unable to support today’s connectivity needs and are increasingly unreliable, especially as copper theft continues to be a prevalent issue across the state. Newer technologies also have built-in security to protect consumers and businesses from spam calls and fraud and are significantly more energy efficient.

Fiber and wireless are the foundation for what’s next, providing the necessary infrastructure to support AI and data intensive applications, from remote health care to autonomous vehicles. Our $19 billion commitment includes:

Bringing fiber to an additional 4 million+ households and businesses in the state by the end of 2030, to reach 9 million+ fiber locations with the most advanced technology.Expanding and strengthening our statewide wireless network with additional spectrum and adding more than 1,200 cell sites by the end of 2030, including in rural, suburban and urban communities, to support increasing network traffic.Fiber and wireless networks are easier to restore and better equipped to support emergency communications and modern 911 services. Strengthening our wireless coverage also means enhanced coverage for public safety through FirstNet®, Built with AT&T.Through this transition, we expect to save 300 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually by 20301, delivering a more energy efficient network for California. The avoided emissions are equal to those from using 17 million gallons of gasoline2.

Supporting our Traditional Phone Customers
We are committed to a thoughtful transition – all while ensuring no customer loses access to voice or 911 service.

Modern, innovative products like AT&T Phone – Advanced and AT&T Business Voice were developed with our traditional home and business phone customers in mind. These products work just like a traditional phone but use the latest, reliable technology and have battery backup.With AT&T Phone – Advanced and AT&T Business Voice, customers can keep their phone number, and these work with their existing phones, fax machines, home alarms, and medical monitoring machines.We’re providing our California customers with more options and discounts to easily upgrade to modern, affordable services. For our traditional home phone customers in these areas, we’re offering AT&T Phone – Advanced for free for 3 months.For existing California LifeLine customers, we’re offering an additional discount to upgrade to AT&T Phone – Advanced.

Strengthening our Workforce
Building California’s connectivity backbone requires a highly trained workforce. With this investment, we’re committed to creating jobs to build the infrastructure of the future.

Increased investment in new, more reliable connectivity supports good-paying jobs and long-term workforce continuity within the state.AT&T is hiring hundreds of technicians to support fiber expansion and copper decommissioning as we deploy and enable future technology.We commit to recruiting, upskilling, and training more skilled technicians that are needed to build and maintain essential telecommunications infrastructure.

Connecting California’s Communities
We’re expanding Connected Learning Centers (CLCs) and digital skills training to help more Californians get online. CLCs offer access to high-speed internet, computers, and digital literacy resources for Californians, including tribal communities, students, and older adults statewide. AT&T commits to:

Opening six additional CLCs and hosting more than 30 digital literacy workshops across the state in 2026, including sessions for older adults to learn internet basics, cybersecurity awareness and tips, and mobile device skills.This year, we’re committing an additional $1.2 million to nonprofits across California focused on closing the digital divide, disaster preparedness, and support for older adults and tribal members. This supports CLCs and organizations helping connect those who need it most, and is in addition to the more than $2.5 million AT&T contributed in 2025 to communities and organizations across California to help close the digital divide.

With this commitment, AT&T will keep building the network Californians rely on, delivered with the best technologies, so every community has access to high-speed connectivity.

Reaffirming 2026 and Multi-Year Financial Guidance
The $19 billion commitment represents expected investment, supported by updated federal policies, and also supports AT&T’s plans to reach more than 60 million fiber locations across the U.S. by the end of 20303. AT&T reiterates all 2026 and multi-year financial and operational guidance and capital return plans shared during its first-quarter 2026 results.

This is an illustrative analysis based on national average assumptions only; actual California impacts may differ materially due to higher applicable rates and the state’s regulatory environment.

Equivalency calculated using the EPA GHG Calculator for avoiding 300M KWh annually in CA.

Total consumer and business locations reached with fiber represents the sum of: (1) AT&T Owned and Operated locations, which reflect its customer locations passed by AT&T’s fiber network and (2) Fiber Ventures locations, which represent locations served from the acquired Mass Markets fiber business, Gigapower, and other commercial open access providers.

About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 150 years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

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SOURCE AT&T

Technology

INTOUCH INSIGHT ANNOUNCES Q1 2026 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Published

52 minutes ago

May 20, 2026

OTTAWA, ON, May 20, 2026 /CNW/ – Intouch Insight Ltd. (“Intouch” or the “Company”) (TSXV: INX) (OTCQX: INXSF), a provider of customer experience measurement solutions, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Key Highlights for Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025

Total revenue increased 6% to approximately $6.7 million.Gross margin dollars increased by $123,762.SaaS revenue increased by 11% and recurring services increased by 5%.Adjusted EBITDA1 was $352,624, compared to $557,748, reflecting planned strategic investments in sales, marketing, and technology.

Note 1: EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated as net income before interest expense, income taxes, financing costs, depreciation, and amortization.

Recent Operational Highlights

Announced a strategic expansion into the grocery sector, highlighted by an upcoming featured speaking engagement at the GroceryNEXT conference in Chicago.Published proprietary thought leadership studies on the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, identifying a “Transactional Gap” in customer experience and revealing key drivers for mobile ordering success.Advanced key merchandising initiatives to actively build the sales pipeline and establish a foundation for expected long-term revenue expansion.Enhanced software and technology offerings, including investments in AI automation to improve platform functionality and client outcomes.Expanded sales and marketing capabilities to target new verticals and accelerate organic growth.

Cameron Watt, President & Chief Executive Officer of Intouch Insight, commented:

“The first quarter of 2026 progressed in line with our strategic plan, delivering solid top-line growth across every single product line, including an 11% increase in our SaaS revenue. We are confident in the immediate market opportunities in front of us and we are willing to trade near-term profitability, even operating at a potential loss, to fund our commercial expansion. We are intentionally prioritizing top-line growth and market share today because we believe our underlying unit economics are strong. By rapidly scaling our recurring revenue base now, we are expecting to accelerate our path to a tipping point of improved operating leverage and growth in earnings power.”

Watt added:

“Our sales pipeline is converting, highlighted by recent contract signings and exciting momentum with expected upcoming RFP’s for both SaaS and Services. Within our merchandising business, while large-scale rollouts naturally involve extended sales cycles, we remain focused on our target of generating over $1 million in revenue this year, supported by active opportunities and potential scope expansions. With these near-term catalysts in play, we are confident in our trajectory toward double-digit growth for the full year, making this a pivotal time to be part of our growth story.”

Q1 Earnings Conference Call Information

To participate in this event, register and log-in approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call.

Date: May 21, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. eastern time
Register for the live webcast and access on-demand recording: click here.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Q1 2026

Q1 2025

Revenue

$ 6,670,446

$ 6,319,663

Cost of services

3,356,169

3,129,148

Gross margin

3,314,277

3,190,515

Total operating expenses

3,130,742

2,819,164

Income from operating activities

183,535

371,351

Non-operating expenses (earnings)

76,230

82,097

Income tax expense (recovery)

–

76,652

Net income (loss)

$ 107,305

$ 212,602

About Intouch Insight
Intouch Insight offers a complete portfolio of customer experience management (CEM) products and services that help global brands delight their customers, strengthen brand reputation and improve financial performance. Intouch helps clients collect and centralize data from multiple customer touch points, gives them actionable, real-time insights, and provides them with the tools to continuously improve customer experience. Founded in 1992, Intouch is trusted by over 300 of North America’s most-loved brands for their customer experience management, customer survey, mystery shopping, mobile forms, operational and compliance audits, geolocation data capture and event marketing automation solutions. For more information, visit intouchinsight.com.

Certain statements included in this news release including those related to the Company’s quarterly results, future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements that are made as of the date hereof, which by their nature are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events, and are based on information currently available to the Company and on hypotheses which it considers to be reasonable; however, management cautions the reader that hypotheses relative to future events which are beyond the control of management could prove to be false, given that they are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company’s most recent annual MD&A and the Company’s continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Intouch Insight Ltd.

Technology

University of Utah to launch groundbreaking DARPA-backed critical minerals testbed

Published

52 minutes ago

May 20, 2026

The Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Testbed (SMART) initiative will provide a first-of-its-kind testing ecosystem to accelerate breakthrough technologies for rare earth elements and strengthen domestic supply chains.

SALT LAKE CITY, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Utah, one of the nation’s leading research universities, is partnering with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to launch the Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Testbed (SMART), a major innovation platform designed to accelerate the United States’ capabilities in critical minerals and rare earth elements.

SMART will serve as a national hub for cutting-edge biotechnology research, providing organizations with tools to develop, test and scale breakthrough technologies, accelerating solutions that directly strengthen national defense and power the innovations of tomorrow.

The U.S. faces a growing need to strengthen its domestic supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements, the essential components of advanced technologies including electric vehicles, cellphones, renewable energy systems and national defense. Meeting this challenge will require bold new approaches for identifying, extracting and refining these materials.

With deep expertise in earth sciences, engineering and commercialization, the University of Utah is positioned to drive new research pathways and innovation models, advancing U.S. capabilities and helping shape the future of technology and manufacturing.

This effort builds on the University of Utah’s recent announcement of the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, a university-wide initiative focused on expanding sustainable domestic supply chains through research, education and workforce development. Together, SMART and the institute position the university as a national leader in addressing critical minerals challenges from discovery to deployment.

“Necessity is the core driver of innovation. The U.S. desperately needs a testbed to accelerate our strategic material supply chain,” said Jakob Jensen, associate vice president for research at the University of Utah. “SMART is a state-of-the-art testing ecosystem that addresses a pressing need.”

“The launch of SMART reflects how the University of Utah is stepping forward to help solve one of the nation’s most urgent challenges,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “By bringing together our strengths in science, engineering and policy, we are accelerating solutions that strengthen national security and build a more resilient, forward-looking critical minerals ecosystem.”

This first phase launches a larger, multi-phase initiative to expand national capacity in critical minerals research, development and deployment. Phase I will support DARPA’s Environmental Microbes as a BioEngineering Resource (EMBER) program, which is pioneering new ways to unlock America’s supply of rare earth elements. SMART is establishing a state-of-the-art benchmarking space on the University of Utah campus to accelerate the path from lab discovery to real-world solutions. Benchmarking infrastructure is often difficult to fund, yet it is essential for validating breakthrough technologies and determining their potential to scale.

“One of the biggest challenges in this space is not invention, but translation,” said Sha-Chelle Manning, chief of DARPA’s Commercial Strategy Office. “SMART is designed to reduce the risk of scaling new technologies by giving innovators a place to validate performance at meaningful scale, helping accelerate the transition from breakthrough science to actual capability.”

The testbed was developed in coordination and with the support of multiple Utah entities, including 47G, the Utah Mining Association and the World Trade Center. This collaboration represents a distinctive model for research-driven innovation and helps position the state as an ideal home for the lab.

“47G is proud to have played a key role in forging the relationships that made SMART possible,” said Aaron Starks, CEO and president of 47G. “This initiative is more than a research platform—it’s a testbed that will serve our local industry here in Utah while also advancing innovation and supply chain resilience nationwide. Our mission is to connect partners, align priorities and create collaborations that drive real impact.”

SMART is just the beginning. By investing in this platform, the University of Utah is helping position the nation as a leader in critical materials research and innovation. We welcome collaboration from industry, researchers and policymakers to expand this work and build a stronger, more resilient innovation ecosystem.

About the University of Utah
The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs and an enrollment of more than 36,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. Ranked No. 1 public university in the West by the Wall Street Journal, the U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation and the world.

Media contacts:
Amanda Ashley, Amanda.ashley@utah.edu, director, marketing and communications, Technology Licensing Office, University of Utah

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SOURCE The University of Utah

Technology

Kong Partners with Unfold to Accelerate Channel Growth Across Australia and New Zealand

Published

52 minutes ago

May 20, 2026

Unfold to help build and scale Kong’s partner ecosystem in ANZ, converting channel relationships into sustained revenue contribution

SYDNEY, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, today announced a partnership with Unfold, an Australian channel activation and SaaS distribution company, to further engage and support Kong’s channel ecosystem across Australia and New Zealand. Unfold will help Kong’s partners uncover consistent revenue streams by aligning the partner’s strategic priorities with the commercial drivers that motivate them.

The partnership addresses a common challenge for technology vendors scaling through indirect channels. Partners often have limited visibility into a vendor’s current go-to-market priorities, making it difficult to identify the right sales plays, position products effectively, or act on emerging demand. Unfold will bridge that gap for Kong by equipping partners with targeted sales plays, technical positioning and use-case guidance, and by proactively identifying and curating opportunities aligned to current market demand.

For partners, the engagement is designed to help deliver greater value, profitability, and long-term growth opportunity. Rather than relying on partners to self-serve, Unfold’s model brings the vendor’s narrative and commercial opportunity directly to partners, reducing time-to-engagement and helping them capture revenue sooner.

Unfold Co-Founder James Cunial said the company was looking forward to putting Kong forward for partners investing in AI and API innovation.

“Kong sits at the centre of where APIs and AI converge, and that opportunity is playing out right now,” he said. “As AI initiatives materialise and demand accelerates, our focus is to help partners move quickly, position Kong clearly, and convert that opportunity into real pipeline and revenue across ANZ.”

Mark West, Regional Vice President for ANZ at Kong, said the partnership would enable a scalable sales multiplier for the company in the region, allowing for greater growth and collaboration opportunities.

“Kong is at the heart of all things AI, serving as the infrastructure and connectivity layer that organisations must consider as the whole agentic AI footprint explodes,” he said. “To match demand and scale as quickly as required in the ANZ market, partnerships such as the one we are embarking on with Unfold are a strategic enabler.

This will help us not only scale our outreach, but also onboard new partners to help furnish the opportunity in front of us. As a vendor we need to move fast and that includes how and who we partner with, this is where we see the Unfold partnership paying dividends.”

To learn more about Kong’s partner program, visit https://konghq.com/partners.

About Kong Inc.

Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.

About Unfold

Unfold is a modern, AI-enabled distributor designed to help technology partners build momentum faster. Through intelligently guided engagement, embedded enablement, and simplified commercial execution, Unfold makes it easier for partners to navigate complex cloud and AI platforms and turn opportunity into repeatable growth.
Learn more: unfold.technology

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SOURCE Kong Inc.