By
Julianne
Pepitone, CNNMoney.com contributing writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- AT&T plans to add 3,000 jobs
in 2009 as part of a multibillion-dollar capital-spending
plan, the telecommunications company said Tuesday.
In a press release, AT&T said it would spend $17
billion to $18 billion this year, with two-thirds of the funds
pledged to build up its wireless and broadband networks to
provide more coverage.
As part of its expansion plan, the company will add almost
3,000 jobs in 2009 to support increased customer demand for
wireless, broadband and video.
AT&T said its data traffic has grown, on average, more
than 50% year-over-year.
"Demand for broadband continues to grow as new
applications emerge and customers embrace them," said
Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive said
in the release. "We expect demand will only escalate when
the larger economy rebounds."
Despite the job additions in its wireless and broadband
units, AT&T expects to proceed with the nearly
12,000 job cuts it announced in December due to economic
pressures, restructuring and consumers' shift from wired voice
services to wireless and broadband.
AT&T also said it will expand its high-speed wireless
service to 20 new markets this year, in addition to creating
2,100 new cell sites across the country.
Shares of AT&T (T,
Fortune
500) jumped more than 5% to $22.92 in the final half hour
of Tuesday trading. 
First Published: March 10, 2009: 3:40 PM ET