Verizon planning fiber expansion

On the heels of its announcement to build FiOS in Boston, Verizon signals more fiber expansion is on the way. During an earnings call, CEO McAdam said that, after years of refusing to build-out FiOS, the company is in discussions to bring the high-speed fiber product to more cities, inside and perhaps outside the Verizon footprint.

"We will create a single fiber-optic network platform capable of supporting wireless and wireline technologies and multiple products," McAdam said on the call. “We have a stronger position in the Washington to Boston corridor" and "can move to market more quickly,” he added before reiterating Verizon’s current footprint is not a “boundary.”

Building out FiOS was a major demand by Verizon workers during their recent strike, and McAdam reiterates that the next-generation 5G wireless network, which will require thousands of small cells linked to a robust fiber network, has changed the economics of fiber deployment.

Links:

Verizon talking to cities about fiber expansion after years of stagnation (Ars Technica, July 27, 2016)

Verizon plans to build FiOS in Boston (Speed Matters, June 13, 2016)

Verizon strike gains strength, support from presidential candidates and elected officials (Speed Matters, Apr. 19, 2016)