AT&T beats estimates for subscriber additions on demand for higher-priced plans

AT&T exceeded market expectations for wireless subscriber additions in the second quarter on Wednesday, as the telecom operator’s higher-tier unlimited plans attracted customers.

Shares of the company rose 2.4% in premarket trading.

The company added 419,000 monthly bill-paying wireless phone subscribers, compared with expectations of 284,800 additions, according to five analysts polled by FactSet.

AT&T’s unlimited plans that are usually priced lower than those of rivals have helped the company add budget-conscious customers amid tough competition from T-Mobile and Verizon.