Verizon is shopping for Frontier Communications in a $20 billion deal to strengthen its fiber community.

Verizon Communications Inc. mentioned Thursday that the acquisition may also shore up its foray into synthetic intelligence in addition to linked sensible gadgets.

Frontier has concentrated closely on its fiber community capabilities over about 4 years, investing $4.1 billion upgrading and increasing its fiber community. It now will get greater than half of its income from fiber merchandise.

The worth tag for Frontier, based mostly in Dallas, is sizeable given its 2.2 million fiber subscribers throughout 25 states. Verizon has roughly 7.4 million Fios connections in 9 states and Washington, D.C.

Frontier has 7.2 million fiber areas and has plans to construct out an extra 2.8 million fiber areas by the tip of 2026.

“The acquisition of Frontier is a strategic match,” Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg mentioned in a ready assertion. “It can construct on Verizon’s twenty years of management on the forefront of fiber and is a chance to turn out to be extra aggressive in additional markets all through the USA, enhancing our capability to ship premium choices to tens of millions extra clients throughout a mixed fiber community.”

Verizon, based mostly in New York Metropolis, pays $38.50 for every Frontier share. The deal is anticipated to shut in about 18 months. It nonetheless wants approval from Frontier shareholders.

Shares of Frontier Communications Dad and mom Inc., which have been halted briefly on Wednesday after a report from the Wall Road Journal in regards to the deal despatched the refill practically 40%, fell 9% earlier than the market opened on Thursday. Verizon’s inventory rose barely.