What’s the news? The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) awarded AT&T as a GTA Direct technology and connectivity provider for state, local and education government customers. As part of GTA’s selection of AT&T, several cost-effective solutions are now available to public agencies. These options will help enhance connections in our communities – supporting a safer, smarter and stronger Georgia.
The GTA Direct program provides a quick path to managed information technology (IT) services from pre-qualified providers and makes those services available to Georgia agencies, local governments, colleges and universities, and boards of education statewide.
AT&T has been connecting Georgians for over 140 years. And, we are proud to be one of the largest GTA service providers, serving more than 1,500 Georgia Government customers today.
Why is this important? Through GTA Direct, AT&T has created an easy-to-use procurement vehicle for state and local governments and educational agencies to obtain the connectivity solutions they need to keep organizations connected. Services included are fiber and high-speed broadband internet, voice and collaboration, unified communications, and infrastructure cabling services – all designed to support specific Georgia needs. This new contract, along with funding available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will help government customers streamline the purchase and delivery of the critical communications solutions needed to serve the citizens of Georgia.
AT&T Investment in Georgia From 2018 to 2020 alone, AT&T expanded coverage and improved connectivity in communities by investing more than $5.1 billion in our wireless and wireline networks in Georgia. AT&T has over 5.75 million strand miles of fiber optics deployed in communities across the state.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on how people and businesses operate, with the last year demonstrating that reliable connections are more critical than ever. AT&T is committed to continuing to provide customers with the connectivity needed to be best positioned for today and tomorrow.
To learn more about AT&T’s work with GTA Direct, visit www.attgtadirect.com.
What are people saying?
Shawnzia Thomas, State of Georgia Chief Information Officer and Georgia Technology Authority Executive Director
“Through the GTA Direct program, we aim to make it easier for state agencies, local governments, colleges and universities, and boards of education to acquire the managed IT services they need to serve Georgians. We are pleased to further our successful collaboration with AT&T as we work together to ease the burden of procurements for public entities, enabling them to capitalize on the state’s purchasing power and gain access to contracts tailored to government.”
Brian Troup, AT&T Vice President for Public Sector, State, Local and Education
"AT&T is proud to be one of the largest providers of connectivity services in the State of Georgia. We look forward to our continued work with GTA to provide state and local customers with IT solutions that best fit the needs of our Georgia communities. We pioneered the GTA Direct concept four years ago with GTA, through the establishment of its predecessor – the GTA GETS Ready program. Over the last four years, state and local customers have used that vehicle to purchase more than $14M of technology services. We’re proud to continue working with the State of Georgia and expect similar results with the GTA Direct contract."
Venessa Harrison, President of AT&T Georgia
“We have been investing in Georgia for more than 140 years, and our commitment to enhancing connections for our customers in communities across this great state continues. At AT&T, we take great pride in the work we do to keep Georgians connected and are pleased to work with GTA to ensure public sector customers have access to flexible, cost-effective and reliable solutions that help strengthen our Georgia communities.”
Source: https://about.att.com/story/2021/georgia_technology_authority_att.html