Home / Business and Economy / Verizon Secures Frontier Deal After California Concessions
Verizon Secures Frontier Deal After California Concessions
16 Jan
Summary
- Verizon received final approval to acquire Frontier Communications.
- The deal was approved after Verizon made concessions to California regulators.
- The acquisition is expected to formally close on January 20, 2026.
Verizon Communications has secured the final approvals necessary to acquire Frontier Communications, a fiber-optic broadband provider. The transaction, valued at $9.6 billion, received unanimous approval from the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday. This approval followed Verizon's agreement to several concessions, including a five-year commitment to spend $500 million with California small businesses.
The path to this acquisition completion, expected on January 20, 2026, has been complex. Verizon previously obtained Federal Communications Commission approval by pledging to adjust certain diversity policies. California, a key market, had raised concerns about these changes aligning with state regulations, leading to the recent concessions.
These concessions also include expanding Verizon's network within California and offering discounted services to qualifying residents. The merger aims to accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet, enabling the combined entity to serve nearly 30 million homes and businesses with fiber-optic broadband.
