A View from the Top is a Q&A series exclusively available on CNBC Pro. Alex Sherman will regularly speak with a business leader about decision-making, investing and industry news.
AT&T is focusing on three "core priorities" -- wireless, fiber broadband and next generation entertainment services, according to Jeff McElfresh, head of AT&T Communications. That's driven AT&T's push to divest assets, including potentially DirecTV and its advertising platform Xandr.
Still, while AT&T is positioning its company around wireless and high-speed broadband, Apple's 5G iPhones, expected to be announced in October, may not be the major event many are expecting. Economic challenges during Covid-19 quarantines may cause fewer people to upgrade immediately, said McElfresh. If you're not in a hurry to upgrade to 5G, McElfresh shared some additional news -- AT&T engineers are already working on 6G.
McElfresh also defended AT&T's decision to buy DirecTV in 2015 for $49 billion while acknowledging consumers now view satellite TV as "old technology."
Here's the full Q&A: