Verizon Communications Inc. provides communications, technology, information, and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide through its subsidiaries. It operates in two segments: Verizon Consumer Group and Verizon Business Group. The Consumer segment offers wireless services in the United States under the Verizon and TracFone brands, fixed wireless access broadband, and wireline services in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, including Washington D.C., through its fiber-optic and copper-based networks. The Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services, including fixed wireless access, wireline broadband, advanced communication services, corporate networking, security and managed network, voice, and network access services for IoT. The company distributes through direct channels, company-operated stores, digital and omnichannel platforms, indirect agents, business solution resellers, and national retailers. Formerly known as Bell Atlantic Corporation, it changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. in June 2000. Incorporated in 1983, it is headquartered in New York, New York.
Verizon and Siyata Launch SD7 Ultra 5G Push-to-Talk Handset for Frontline Workers
Verizon Communications and Siyata announced a new 5G mission-critical Push-to-Talk handset, the SD7 Ultra, aimed at frontline workers in public safety, security, education, and construction who need simple and reliable field communications. The device is built for challenging environments where traditional smartphones may not offer the same durability or usability, and targets workers who still rely on radio-style gear. The launch supports Verizon's push around private networks, CBRS and enterprise connectivity rather than just consumer phones, and lines up with its expanding $2b+ enterprise sales funnel. The key test ahead is whether Verizon discloses concrete wins such as multi-year public safety or education contracts that specifically call out SD7 Ultra deployment on its 5G and CBRS footprint, with unit shipments or active Push-to-Talk lines over the next 12 to 24 months serving as volume indicators.
Apple has raised prices across its entire flagship iPhone lineup by $100, with the new foldable iPhone Duo starting at $1,999, as preorders that began Sept. 12 give way to in-store availability today. US carriers Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T have increased their iPhone incentives, according to analysis by Bank of America's Michael Funk, with maximum trade-in credits for the iPhone 18 Pro Max rising to $1,200 from $1,100 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max and $1,000 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the iPhone 18 Pro also carries a $1,200 trade-in credit. Those savings are offset by an activation fee of $35 to $40, tax on the device's full retail price, and an additional $150 for an AppleCare+ plan. In a scenario where a customer trades in a phone qualifying for the highest credits, Funk says the initial cost comes to $291 to $296 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $400 to $405 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Funk said he expects a strong iPhone cycle on higher average selling prices and Duo uptake, adding that Siri AI should drive increased interest in upgrades.
Corning Expands AI Partner Base With Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, Verizon Deals
Corning Incorporated is expanding its partner base across the technology, cloud, networking and telecom sectors, signing a series of multibillion-dollar agreements tied to AI infrastructure buildouts. In the first half of 2026, Corning entered a multiyear agreement worth up to $6 billion with Meta to supply optical fiber, cable and connectivity products for Meta's U.S. data-center expansion, and also signed a multibillion-dollar, multiyear agreement with Amazon to support its AI data center expansion. Corning has additionally formed a multiyear commercial and technology partnership with NVIDIA under which it plans to increase its U.S. optical-connectivity manufacturing capacity tenfold and expand U.S. fiber production by more than 50 percent. Verizon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar, multiyear agreement covering more than 80 million miles of high-density optical fiber and connectivity solutions from 2027 through 2032, supporting both broadband expansion and the long-haul network needed to connect AI infrastructure. Beyond those large contracts, Corning is collaborating with US Conec as a licensee of the PRIZM TMT optical ferrule technology, designed to accommodate higher fiber counts in tighter spaces for denser AI data centers. Corning faces competition from Amphenol Corporation and Ciena Corporation, and its growth outlook remains dependent on the pace of AI infrastructure investment and the timing of large customer deployments.
Snap's New $2,200 Specs Glasses Spark Debate Over Target Buyer
Snap has launched its latest version of Specs, priced at about $2,200, with a more expensive version around $2,400 that does not require Wi-Fi to use, and a new partnership with Verizon to sell them. On Yahoo Finance, Payne Capital Management President Ryan Payne joined Julie Hyman and Jake Conley to debate who the target buyer is and what the real-world use case is for the product. Payne said he does not understand the buyer or the use case outside very specific scenarios, and raised litigation concerns about recording conversations in states where consent is required. The panel noted Snap's stock is down roughly 90% over the last five years and compared the glasses to past products like the stylus and flip phone that failed to win mainstream adoption, while also pointing to Meta's similar efforts. The discussion also touched on the recording feature, with the group noting that wearing such glasses could become socially suspicious.
Snap Adds Salesforce and NVIDIA Tools to $2,195 Specs AR Glasses
Snap disclosed that Salesforce is embedding its Agentforce agent platform into its Specs augmented reality glasses, with NVIDIA supplying the artificial intelligence that lets the device interpret what a worker is looking at and pull up relevant company data, and Amazon contributing its cloud unit's assistant for voice-command tasks. Snap also unveiled a Specs Intelligence service, with a separately sold charging case carrying cellular connectivity through carrier partners including Verizon Communications in the U.S. The device was unveiled in June at $2,195, and Snap did not disclose financial terms for any of the tie-ups, so the move prices a positioning change rather than booked business. Snap stock rose about 4% to $5.95 on the news, while Meta Platforms, the incumbent in consumer AR through Ray-Ban Meta and Reality Labs, held steady with shares up 0.4% to $675.88. Snap stock remains down 28% year to date, and Snap has said shipping begins later this fall in the U.S., the U.K., and France, with a Los Angeles shopping-mall try-on experience starting in October.
Reaves Fund Flags T-Mobile Sell-Off on Renewed Wireless Competition
Reaves Long Term Value Wrap Strategy reported a 10.55% gain in the second quarter of 2026, outperforming the MSCI USA Infrastructure Index, which fell 6.31%, while cash distributions rose 6.7% from the second quarter of 2025. In its quarterly investor letter, the strategy singled out T-Mobile US as a detractor, citing renewed concerns about competitive intensity in US wireless. The letter said new pricing plans at Verizon and AT&T narrowed T-Mobile's premium gap at retail, while satellite headline risk reached feverish levels around the much-anticipated SpaceX IPO, and it added that it believes Starlink lacks the assets to be disruptive to wireless in the near term but acknowledged the overhang may persist. Rumors that parent company Deutsche Telekom may be interested in consolidating the T-Mobile minority shareholders also pressured the stock, according to the letter. T-Mobile closed at $176.26 per share on September 16, 2026, down 4.90% over the past month and 27.84% over the past year, with a market capitalization of $184.95 billion and a 52-week range of $165.66 to $242.37. The letter also noted that 85 hedge fund portfolios held T-Mobile at the end of the second quarter, unchanged from the previous quarter.
Snap taps Nvidia, AWS, Salesforce to push $2,000 Specs AR glasses into enterprise
Snap is partnering with Nvidia, Amazon Web Services and Salesforce to bring its $2,000 Specs augmented-reality glasses to the enterprise market, as competition in the category grows and Meta remains a dominant player. In the United States, Snap is partnering with Verizon to offer custom data plans, flexible financing, digital setup and hands-on experiences at select Verizon stores, the Evan Spiegel-led company said in a statement. The SPECS Connected Case bundle will be available for $2,395, and Verizon will offer eligible customers financing options including a 36-month payment plan, with connected wearable data plans available from $10 per month for Verizon customers and from $20 per month for non-Verizon customers. Snap did not disclose the financial terms of the partnerships, which also include software company Trifork and augmented-reality software firm Hololight. Snap, which also unveiled the SPECS Intelligence AI service on Wednesday, has previously said shipping for the glasses is expected to begin later this fall in the U.S., UK and France, and said the waitlist for SPECS Intelligence is now open for invitation-only early access on Mac, with a preview available in the SPECS iOS app in the U.S. When Snap revealed the Specs AR glasses in June, with a $2,195 price tag and $200 refundable deposit, the company pitched the device as catering to the public instead of developers.
Verizon Adds Nine Tech Firms to 6G Innovation Forum, Trials AI-Native Network
Verizon Communications is expanding its push toward next-generation wireless technology through its Verizon 6G Innovation Forum and real-world trials of emerging 6G capabilities, focused on building an artificial intelligence-native network. The company has added nine major technology companies to the forum, including Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Intel, Keysight Technologies, MediaTek, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks, Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI Solutions, joining founding members Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia, Meta and Qualcomm Technologies. Verizon has demonstrated Integrated Sensing and Communication through trials with Samsung and Qualcomm, testing crowd-density monitoring with wireless signals and tracking drones and ground vehicles alongside high-speed 5G communications. It has also showcased an AI Sports Companion prototype using Meta AI glasses, edge computing and NVIDIA technology, and plans to use the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a key testing ground for 6G technologies such as AI, ISAC, robotics and smart wearables. Verizon shares have gained 17.3% over the past year compared with the industry's growth of 94.3%, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9.83 versus an industry average of 38.33, while 2026 earnings estimates have risen 1% to $5.03 per share and 2027 estimates have risen 0.2% to $5.29 over the past 60 days.
Cisco Joins Verizon 6G Forum, Partners With Infleqtion On Quantum Networking
Cisco Systems has joined Verizon's 6G Innovation Forum, taking part in work on AI native wireless and sensing architectures. The company is also collaborating with quantum company Infleqtion on distributed quantum networking research that uses the Cisco Universal Quantum Switch. Cisco and Infleqtion plan to explore scalable quantum network designs aimed at connecting multiple quantum processing nodes across wider telecom infrastructure. The 6G forum seat keeps Cisco inside the decision room as carriers shape AI native networks, while the quantum research extends Cisco's Quantum Labs work into practical architectures for linking heterogeneous quantum devices across existing telecom gear. Both moves build on Cisco's AI focused networking and integrated security strategy, though they also underline the company's reliance on complex, long dated projects with a concentrated group of large partners.
Corning Signs Multi-Billion-Dollar Fiber Deal With Verizon
Corning Incorporated has entered into a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar agreement with Verizon Communications Inc. to support the expansion of broadband networks and next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure. Under the deal, Corning will supply more than 80 million miles of high-density optical fiber and connectivity solutions from 2027 through 2032 for Verizon's nationwide broadband expansion, serving residential customers, businesses and mobile networks, and including high-capacity fiber for long-haul network corridors connecting data centers. The agreement, spanning more than three decades of partnership, is expected to support Corning's U.S. manufacturing expansion as it scales production to meet growing demand. Corning faces competition from Amphenol Corporation and Lumen Technologies, which are also expanding fiber-optic and high-capacity network capabilities for AI and data-center connectivity. Corning shares have rallied 124.8% over the past year, and earnings estimates for 2026 have increased 2.5% to $3.27 while 2027 estimates have risen 1.7% to $4.28 over the past 60 days.
Wells Fargo Analyst: SpaceX Wireless Threatens Carriers, Tower REITs and Cable Stand to Gain
Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall said on a September 8 CNBC segment that SpaceX's satellite-plus-spectrum wireless push will hurt incumbent carriers while tower REITs and cable operators quietly profit, arguing the architecture needs far less ground infrastructure than a traditional fourth carrier. The FCC has cleared SpaceX to absorb 65 MHz of EchoStar's U.S. spectrum, which management plans to integrate later next year, and Starlink subscribers doubled year over year to 12.0 million as of Q2 2026. SpaceX's Q2 connectivity revenue reached $4.29 billion, up 66% year over year, on total Q2 revenue of $7.81 billion, $3.54 billion of adjusted EBITDA and a $93.5 billion cash position. Cahall named towers and a Wi-Fi offload MVNO with cable as the potential sector winners, noting Crown Castle yields around 5.5% after its fiber divestiture while AT&T contributes 28% of site rental revenue, and Charter's Spectrum Mobile added 406,000 lines with mobile service revenue up 18.9% year over year to $1.095 billion. The thesis carries a real hole: if SpaceX routes around U.S. towers entirely with its own rooftop equipment, the tower leasing bump never lands, and Crown Castle has said only that its sites offer space, power and backhaul with no signed agreement yet. T-Mobile is seen as most exposed because its Direct-to-Cell partnership loses differentiation once SpaceX controls its own spectrum, with TMUS shares down 23.18% over the past year, while Verizon's fixed wireless net additions fell 30.6% year over year.
Verizon and Corning Sign 80 Million Mile Fiber Deal
Verizon and Corning have reached a multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement for over 80 million miles of high-density optical fiber, aimed at expanding broadband connectivity and building networks for AI data centers. Corning, which is manufacturing the fiber, benefits more than Verizon, as the deal adds to its existing contracts with Meta, Amazon, and NVIDIA. Corning shares rose 14.04% over the past week to close at $165.99, while Verizon closed at $50.41, up 29.99% year to date. Corning rates a Buy with a forward P/E of 35x and an analyst target of $191.40, while Verizon is a Hold, best owned for its covered dividend of $0.7075 per quarter.
VoIP-Pal Files Third Amended Complaint Against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile
VoIP-Pal.com Inc. has filed its Third Amended Complaint in its federal antitrust action against AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and T-Mobile US, Inc., in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The amended pleading, filed on September 4, 2026, follows a court ruling that allowed the company to streamline its claims. It asserts four causes of action under the Sherman Act, including unlawful tying, unreasonable restraint of trade, monopolization, and predatory pricing, alleging that the carriers condition access to Wi-Fi calling on the purchase of their retail cellular plans, thereby foreclosing the market for standalone Wi-Fi calling. CEO Emil Malak discussed the case in a CEOCFO Magazine article published today, expressing satisfaction with the revised complaint.
Verizon and Corning Sign Multi-Billion Dollar Fiber Supply Deal Through 2032
Verizon and Corning have announced a multi-billion dollar supply agreement for over 80 million miles of high-density optical fiber and connectivity solutions from 2027 to 2032, aimed at expanding broadband access and building AI infrastructure. The deal supports Verizon's push toward 40-50 million broadband passings and its AI Connect strategy, which deploys ultra-dense cables across long-haul corridors to connect data centers. Corning will scale its U.S. manufacturing to supply products like Corning Contour Flow Cable, deepening a 30-year partnership. Verizon CEO Kyle Malady and Corning's Mike O'Day highlighted the deal's role in enabling a converged network for homes, businesses, and AI hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services.
Verizon Leads Telecom Stocks in 2026 as T-Mobile Slips
Verizon Communications has emerged as the clear winner among major telecom stocks in 2026, with shares up 29% year-to-date, while T-Mobile dropped 9%, and AT&T gained 7%. Only Verizon beat the S&P 500's 13% gain, as dividend yield and fiber execution proved more valuable than 5G branding. Verizon's Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.30 beat consensus, and the company raised its full-year guidance to $4.99-$5.04 and expanded buybacks to $4.5 billion. AT&T also beat estimates with EPS of $0.65, accelerated buybacks to $10 billion, and generated $4.67 billion in quarterly free cash flow. T-Mobile reported the highest revenue growth at 7.9% but saw its stock decline amid narrowing subscriber growth and activist pressure on Deutsche Telekom.
Verizon Redeems $1.25B Notes, Pivots to Hyperscaler Dark Fiber
Verizon Communications announced it will redeem in full its US$1.25 billion 4.329% Notes due 2028 on September 21, 2026, at a price based on a Treasury Rate calculation plus 25 basis points and accrued interest. The redemption is part of a broader strategy that includes a pivot toward hyperscaler dark fiber and edge connectivity, with contributions expected from 2027. The company's narrative projects $147.7 billion revenue and $22.4 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 2.0% yearly revenue growth and about a $5.1 billion earnings increase from $17.3 billion today. Analysts' fair value estimates range widely, with some seeing a $51.90 fair value, a 4% upside to the current price, while others assume earnings could rise from US$16.2 billion to US$25.7 billion, though execution risks remain.
SpaceX mobile network could cost up to $130 billion, Bernstein says
Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned estimates that building a SpaceX mobile network to compete with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon could cost between $50 billion and $130 billion. In a note on Monday, Harned said SpaceX is still most likely to partner for its mobile business, but the company continues to indicate a terrestrial buildout is possible. He noted that estimates for a greenfield network range from $15 billion to $200 billion, with common approaches based on Dish's build, which spent about $7.4 billion in cash capex from 2020 to 2024 for roughly 24,000 sites and 268 million pops. SpaceX's total capital expenditures in the second quarter were $18.4 billion, far above analyst estimates of around $6 billion, and JPMorgan analysts project SpaceX will spend $200 billion or more on capex in 2027 and 2028. Shares have rallied from an intraday low of $104.83 on August 3 to $142 on August 31, but MoffettNathanson's Julie Zhu remains cautious, questioning what SpaceX is and staying on the sidelines until expectations reset.
Verizon Shifts Focus to Fiber as Wireless Revenue Declines
Verizon Communications has shifted its investor narrative from wireless service revenue to a combined mobility and broadband metric and a new dark-fiber business, as wireless service revenue fell 0.7% to $20.8 billion in the second quarter of 2026. The company now leads with mobility and broadband service revenue of $23.4 billion, up 2.8% year over year, and highlights a dark-fiber contract with hyperscalers valued at over $1 billion, with revenue expected to begin in 2027. The Consumer segment, about 77% of company revenue at roughly $106.8 billion annually, added 348,000 broadband subscribers in the quarter, bringing the total past 17.1 million. Management raised its 2026 targets for mobility and broadband service revenue, adjusted EPS, and free cash flow, and paid $5.9 billion in dividends in the first half of 2026. The stock trades near $50, just under its 52-week high of $50.25, and the key question is whether wireless service revenue turns positive in the second half of 2026 as guided.
Lockheed Martin Expands Into AI Airspace Monitoring And Sea Launch
Lockheed Martin showcased its NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service system, which uses AI and commercial 5G networks to detect unmanned aircraft systems. The demonstration highlighted potential applications in monitoring airspace around critical infrastructure, public events, and government facilities, in collaboration with partners including Verizon and NVIDIA. Lockheed Martin also extended its multi-launch rocket agreement with Firefly Aerospace and agreed to work together on sea-based launch platforms for responsive space access. The clearest sign of progress will be whether planned pilot deployments in late 2026 and early 2027 convert into recurring NetSense subscriptions with city, state, federal or large commercial customers, alongside concrete task orders under the extended Firefly launch agreement.
Verizon Partners With Google Cloud to Deploy Gemini Enterprise
Verizon is deepening its artificial-intelligence push through a new strategic partnership with Alphabet's Google Cloud, deploying Gemini Enterprise across customer service, network operations, marketing and employee workflows. Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience already handles the majority of Verizon's inbound consumer calls and chats each month, and Google said the expanded relationship will also use AI to predict and resolve network anomalies before they affect customers. Verizon plans to use Gemini Enterprise to coordinate AI agents across core business functions, while Google Cloud's data tools will automate parts of content creation, marketing campaigns and customer engagement. The partnership builds on Verizon's existing use of Google Cloud technology and comes as the carrier reported second-quarter mobility and broadband service revenue rose 2.8% to roughly $23.4 billion, with adjusted EBITDA up 7.2% to a record $13.7 billion. Verizon expects mobility and broadband service revenue growth to accelerate toward roughly 4% in the fourth quarter and raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.99 to $5.04.
Verizon Communications plans to redeem $1.25 billion of 4.329% notes due 2028 next month. The move highlights the company's balance sheet and capital structure. Verizon shares have returned 22.04% year to date and 18.87% over one year at a price of $49.45. Analysts' average target is slightly above the current price, while some intrinsic value estimates are far higher.
Verizon Launches Pixel 11 Lineup With New Simplicity Wireless Plans
Verizon Communications has launched an exclusive Google Pixel 11 lineup alongside new Simplicity and Simplicity Pro wireless plans that bundle Google AI features with flexible yearly device upgrade options. The telecom giant is removing upgrade and activation fees for these plans, positioning the Pixel 11 launch as a broader push into value-added wireless services. The move ties Verizon's core connectivity business more closely to AI-driven services for consumers, businesses, and government customers worldwide. Analysts view the launch as supporting Verizon's convergence strategy of segmented, customer-centric plans aimed at improving net additions and retention against rivals AT&T and T-Mobile. However, the promotion-heavy structure and device upgrade incentives also highlight competitive pressure and the risk that wireless growth depends on richer discounts.
T-Mobile Service Revenue Climbs 9% on Postpaid Growth
T-Mobile US reported second-quarter 2026 total service revenues of $19 billion, up 9% year over year, driven by a 13% jump in postpaid service revenues to $15.9 billion. Postpaid accounts reached 34.7 million, up from 31.5 million a year earlier, helped by acquisitions of UScellular and Metronet, while postpaid average revenue per account rose 2% to $152.91. Management said more than 60% of customers on new accounts are selecting premium rate-plan tiers, supporting ARPA growth. The company faces competition from AT&T, which added more than 1 million Advanced Connectivity customers in the quarter, and Verizon, which added 348,000 broadband subscribers. T-Mobile shares have declined 28% over the past year, and the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Verizon Loses Final Supreme Court Appeal Over $47 Million FCC Fine
Verizon Communications has lost its final legal appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court over a $47 million FCC penalty tied to customer location data. The decision leaves the long-running fine in place and closes Verizon's effort to recover the funds through the courts. The outcome underscores ongoing federal scrutiny of how U.S. telecom companies handle sensitive user information and comply with FCC rules. The penalty is small relative to Verizon's scale and heavy 5G and fiber spending, so the broader bull case around cost optimization and cash generation remains intact.
The 30-year Treasury yield at 5.31% is reshaping which dividend stocks win or lose, with MetLife up 25.2% year to date while Realty Income has fallen 4.88% over the past month. MetLife's net investment income rose 10% to $5.36 billion in Q1 2026, and its dividend has been raised twice this year to $0.5925 per quarter. Ares Capital benefits from floating-rate loans with 71% of its portfolio yielding a weighted-average 10.3%, though non-accruals climbed to 2.4% at amortized cost. Realty Income's forward dividend of $3.252 yields roughly 5%, no longer meaningfully above the Treasury, while Vornado Realty carries 8.0x net debt to EBITDAre with two loans in default. Verizon's $136.5 billion in unsecured debt and rising refinancing costs chip at free cash flow despite a 25.2% year-to-date share gain.
TDS Raises Fiber Guidance as Legacy Revenue Declines
Telephone and Data Systems raised its full-year fiber address guidance to a range of 250,000 to 300,000 after adding roughly 66,000 marketable fiber service addresses in the second quarter, pushing first half 2026 delivery to about 106,000, the strongest opening half in company history. Total telecom operating revenue fell 6% in the quarter, or 4% excluding divestitures, and management trimmed its full-year telecom revenue guidance to a range of $1 billion to $1.025 billion. Residential fiber net adds reached 15,100 for the quarter, up 47% year-over-year, and fiber revenue climbed 13%, or $11 million. Array Digital Infrastructure, the tower subsidiary in which TDS has an unresolved buyout offer for minority shares, saw cash site rental revenue up 65% year-over-year on a normalized basis and closed a $168 million spectrum sale to T-Mobile in May and a $1 billion transaction with Verizon in June.
Charlie Ergen's CONX to acquire control of MobileX in $200M deal
Charlie Ergen agreed to acquire a controlling stake in wireless provider MobileX through his special purpose acquisition company CONX, in a deal valuing the carrier at about $200 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. The transaction, which requires regulatory approval, also would give Verizon Communications a minority interest in MobileX through the conversion of an existing loan into equity. MobileX resells wireless service using Verizon's network. Ergen already oversees Boost Mobile as chairman and co-founder of EchoStar. It is unclear whether MobileX and Boost will combine operations or remain separate businesses. MobileX founder Peter Adderton is expected to remain chief executive.
Verizon and Lockheed Martin launch AI-powered airspace monitoring service
Verizon Communications and Lockheed Martin are collaborating on NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service, using AI and 5G to support unmanned aircraft systems detection and critical infrastructure protection. The partners are working with additional technology providers to connect sensor data over Verizon's 5G network for real-time monitoring of UAS activity. The initiative includes planned pilot deployments and potential future commercialization aimed at enterprise and government customers.
Verizon Signs Over $1 Billion AI Connectivity Deal With Google
Verizon Communications has signed a more than $1 billion agreement with Google to provide dark-fiber routes connecting data centers, positioning its network for growing AI connectivity demand. The company expects to announce additional agreements with hyperscalers by year-end that could collectively represent multiple billions of dollars in revenue over the next several years. Verizon is also converting some existing central offices into edge data centers to support AI inference closer to end users. The Google deal provides early validation of AI infrastructure as a long-term growth avenue for Verizon.
Verizon Earnings Estimates Revised Upward for 2026 and 2027
Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Verizon Communications for fiscal 2026 and 2027 over the past 60 days, with the 2026 estimate up 1.21% to $5.03 and the 2027 estimate up 0.38% to $5.29. The company reported 184,000 postpaid phone net additions in the second quarter, its strongest consumer second-quarter performance in five years, while consumer postpaid phone churn fell to 84 basis points from 95 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2025. Verizon also signed an agreement worth more than $1 billion with Google to use its dark-fiber routes to connect data centers, and it is exploring deals with other hyperscalers. However, fixed wireless access net additions fell 30.6% year over year to 193,000, and total unsecured debt stood at $136.5 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026. The stock has gained 8.2% in the past year, underperforming the Wireless National industry's 79% growth, and it carries a Zacks Rank of 3, or Hold.
AT&T Earnings Estimates Rise as Fiber and Wireless Growth Continue
Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for AT&T over the past 60 days, with fiscal 2026 and 2027 projections up 1.29% to $2.35 and 1.18% to $2.57 respectively. The company added more than 1 million fiber locations in the second quarter, bringing total fiber locations to 38.6 million, and expects to exceed 40 million by end of 2026 and 60 million by 2030. AT&T also added 432,000 postpaid phone customers with churn of just 0.86%, and 279,000 fixed wireless connections. However, the company faces high capital expenditure requirements, with net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA at 2.68X and total debt of $144 billion, and management expects leverage to rise to about 3.2X after the planned EchoStar spectrum acquisition. The stock has lost 14% in the past year, underperforming Verizon's 9.3% gain but outperforming T-Mobile's 29.2% decline, and currently trades at 9.86 forward earnings versus the industry's 33.07.
Verizon opens preorders for Google Pixel 11 series with Simplicity plan offers
Verizon began taking preorders for the Google Pixel 11 series on August 12, pairing the new devices with its Simplicity plan. Customers can get the Pixel 11 Pro for $45 a month with no trade-in required, or choose the Simplicity Pro plan at $80 a month to upgrade to the latest Pixel model every year. Other offers include up to $1,100 off with a trade-in and new line, up to $900 off for existing customers upgrading with a trade-in, and a bundle that includes a Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S10 FE at no additional hardware cost. The Pixel 11 starts at $899.99, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099.99, the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299.99, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899.99, and the Pixel Watch 5 at $499.99, with general availability beginning August 20.
Verizon Prices $3.75 Billion in Junior Subordinated Notes Amid Starlink Mobile Threat
Verizon Communications completed a US$3.75 billion offering of fixed-to-floating, callable junior subordinated notes due 2057 and 2059, a move that directly addresses balance sheet flexibility as competitive and capital intensity risks rise. The financing comes as investor attention sharpens around mounting competitive pressure from SpaceX's planned Starlink Mobile direct-to-cell service, which could challenge Verizon's core wireless business model. The company also expanded its Verizon Family app through a new Fi Mini pet-tracking integration and addressed recent service-disrupting vandalism and public safety operations, though these do not materially change the core investment case. Analyst projections show Verizon's revenue reaching US$147.7 billion and earnings US$22.4 billion by 2029, with a fair value estimate of US$51.90 per share, implying a 10% upside from the current price. More cautious estimates assume only about 1.2% annual revenue growth to roughly US$143.8 billion and earnings near US$21.6 billion, raising the question of whether Starlink Mobile and heavy 5G or fiber needs make that outlook more realistic than the optimistic catalyst of disciplined convergence growth and AI efficiency gains.
Warner Bros. Discovery Says Disney Bundle Is Reducing Churn and Boosting Subscriber Growth
Warner Bros. Discovery executives said the streaming bundle with The Walt Disney Co. is delivering measurable benefits, helping to lower customer cancellations and improve subscriber additions. Global Streaming & Games CEO Jean-Briac Perrette stated that the proof is in the data, noting that bundled subscribers are more engaged and remain longer than those on standalone services. The bundle, which combines Max, Disney+ and Hulu, is part of a broader industry shift toward partnerships, with Perrette highlighting distributor-led bundles through Verizon and partnerships in Latin America and Europe. Streaming revenue rose 10% to $3.08 billion on a constant-currency basis in the second quarter, even as total company revenue fell 12% to $8.72 billion. The company also reaffirmed confidence that its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance Corp. will close despite a U.S. antitrust trial set for March 2027.
SpaceX Plans Starlink Mobile Service by End of 2027, Challenging Major U.S. Carriers
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell announced on an earnings call that Starlink Mobile will begin service at the end of 2027, aiming to acquire customers from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The plan sent shares of all three carriers lower on Wednesday before they rebounded Thursday, with T-Mobile gaining 3.75%, AT&T 2.82%, and Verizon 1.12%. T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan told the Financial Times the threat is exaggerated, arguing satellites will remain complementary to cellular networks. Starlink's current direct-to-phone service uses about 5 MHz of borrowed spectrum, but following FCC approval of two SpaceX deals totaling $19.6 billion for 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum with terrestrial rights, and a planned tenfold increase in next-generation mobile satellites, Shotwell said the upgraded service could be roughly 100 times more capable. Analysts remain skeptical, with Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson telling Reuters it is extraordinarily challenging to imagine a competitive direct-to-consumer service within five years. Shotwell acknowledged the need for a terrestrial component, describing a plan to attach small cellular base stations to Starlink dish mounts rather than building large towers.
Elon Musk Says Starlink Could Generate Over $1 Trillion in Annual Revenue
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk projected that Starlink could eventually generate more than $1 trillion in annual revenue, responding to venture capitalist David Friedberg's bullish assessment on the All-In podcast. Friedberg noted Starlink had 12 million subscribers after doubling its user base year over year, with connectivity revenue reaching $4.29 billion, up 66% year over year, and estimated the business could eventually achieve $40 billion in annual revenue and $30 billion in annual free cash flow. Musk said bandwidth demand will increase massively due to AI and robotics, and even if the communications market merely doubles, he expects Starlink to capture at least 25% of the market outside China, translating to more than $500 billion in annual revenue. He added it is not out of the question that Starlink could carry more than 50% of global internet traffic, potentially generating over $1 trillion annually. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said Starlink Mobile is expected to begin service at the end of 2027 and could attract customers from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, while T-Mobile's CEO argued satellite connectivity will likely complement traditional cellular networks.
Array Digital Infrastructure Raises Full-Year Adjusted EBITDA Guidance to $60-$75 Million
Array Digital Infrastructure Inc reported a 65% year-over-year increase in cash site rental revenue, excluding Dish impact, and raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $60 to $75 million. The company closed spectrum monetization transactions with T-Mobile and Verizon, including a $1 billion deal with Verizon, strengthening its balance sheet. The tenancy ratio improved sequentially to 0.96, excluding Dish, reflecting steady growth in co-locations and tower utilization. Array continues to face costs from winding down legacy wireless operations and uncertainty from T-Mobile interim site revenue declines, with 1,000 to 1,700 tenantless towers projected post-integration. Management noted strong demand and a robust pipeline of applications, with no near-term buildout requirements for its C-band spectrum.
SpaceX earnings call remarks jolt telecom and energy stocks
SpaceX's latest earnings call triggered sharp moves in telecom and energy stocks after executives outlined plans to build a terrestrial wireless network and massive power infrastructure. COO Gwynne Shotwell said Starlink would target customers of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, which together generate roughly $600 billion a year, causing shares of those carriers to drop. Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Hottges acknowledged the market reaction, calling it overblown but saying the company takes SpaceX's ambitions seriously. Separately, Elon Musk's comments about building 20 gigawatts of power lifted natural gas equipment suppliers GE Vernova and Baker Hughes, as well as power providers Constellation Energy, NextEra Energy, Vistra, and EQT Corporation. The call also boosted Nvidia after Musk said SpaceX would build exclusively on its Vera Rubin architecture, and highlighted Echostar's 261.8 million share stake in SpaceX as a direct beneficiary.
VoIP-Pal Granted Leave to File Amended Antitrust Complaint Against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile
VoIP-Pal.com Inc. has been granted leave by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to file an amended complaint focusing on federal antitrust claims under the Sherman Act against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The amended complaint, limited to 60 pages and due within 30 days, will detail allegations that the carriers and mobile platform providers excluded independent Wi-Fi calling providers from the market. VoIP-Pal will streamline the litigation by dropping several counts, including RICO claims, to concentrate on the Sherman Act claims that are central to all four pending actions. CEO Emil Malak stated the amended complaint will more clearly show how the defendants' conduct foreclosed competition and prevented VoIP-Pal from entering the market.
Shopify surges 26% premarket on earnings beat while AMD slides 8.8%
U.S. stock futures were broadly higher on Wednesday as Shopify jumped 26% in premarket trading after reporting second-quarter revenue of $3.58 billion, topping analysts' expectations of $3.45 billion, while Advanced Micro Devices fell 8.8% after its revenue outlook disappointed investors. Shopify's adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 also beat estimates, and gross merchandise volume rose 32% from a year earlier with free cash flow climbing to $654 million. AMD's decline was compounded by SpaceX announcing it would build its computing infrastructure exclusively with Nvidia chips, underscoring the challenges AMD faces in winning major AI customers. Among other movers, Eli Lilly gained 5.7% after raising its full-year revenue guidance, GE HealthCare advanced 12.3% on a second-quarter beat, and Disney rose 4.7% after a strong profit beat and plans to repurchase $9 billion of shares in fiscal 2026. On the downside, Pinterest fell 9% on a slower third-quarter revenue outlook, Match Group declined 10.2% after forecasting another drop in paying users, and wireless carriers Verizon and AT&T each fell more than 2% after SpaceX outlined plans for a nationwide mobile service that could compete directly with them.
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