Amy Thomson

AT&T said the company will spend more than $250 billion in the next five years to build out its infrastructure in the U.S., setting up the company to more than double its annual investment in a battle for subscribers with its two largest competitors. The investments will focus on high-speed fiber connections and expanding wireless and satellite coverage. The company said its networks are “critical conduits” for fields where major tech companies are investing heavily, including artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

T-Mobile US added more subscribers in the first quarter than AT&T and Verizon Communications combined, heightening the carrier’s allure as Sprint pursues a merger.

Promotions and cheaper plans helped T-Mobile add 1.3 million new monthly subscribers in the period, topping the 998,000 projected by analysts and the 1.16 million customers that AT&T and Verizon added combined.

The subscriber growth came at a cost: T-Mobile’s fourth quarterly loss in a row. Sprint plans to push forward with a bid for T-Mobile after meeting with banks to make debt arrangements for that offer, Bloomberg News reported, citing people with knowledge of the situation.

T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer John Legere is delivering on a promise to shake up the US wireless industry. The fourth-largest US carrier has been on a campaign to lure customers away from larger rivals by providing financing for phones, cheap international rates and as much as $650 to people who switch service.