Verizon updates broadband strategy to bring more choice, flexibility and value to millions

Key Takeaways:

• Verizon reaches fixed wireless access subscriber target 15 months ahead of schedule
• Customer demand for broadband solutions accelerates fixed wireless and fiber rollout
• Fixed wireless subscribers on path to double to 8-9 million by 2028
• Fiber network expected to expand to 35-40 million passings over time

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Communications Inc. ((NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ) today announced an update to its broadband strategy, with new fixed wireless subscriber goals, household targets and broadband offerings to accelerate its premium broadband and mobility services to millions more customers nationwide. Verizon has more than 11.9 million total broadband connections as of the end of third-quarter 2024, up nearly 16 percent year over year. The update was given today at a sell side analyst event following the release of the company's third-quarter 2024 results.

"This is a game changing moment for Verizon and for connectivity across the country," said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO. "Our ambitious targets for fixed wireless access, combined with our fiber expansion including the planned Frontier acquisition, will bring unmatched broadband coverage to millions more homes and businesses nationwide. We are creating an integrated connectivity experience that gives customers freedom in how they connect and use our services. This is about delivering the network of the future, and setting a new bar for the entire industry."

Fixed Wireless subscribers on path to double by 2028

• At the end of third-quarter 2024, the company had nearly 4.2 million fixed wireless subscribers, representing an increase of nearly 57 percent year over year. The company hit its previous goal of 4-5 million subscribers 15 months earlier than expected due to the demand from consumer and business customers as they continue to trust the reliability of the product and speed and ease of deployment.
• Verizon is expecting 8-9 million fixed wireless subscribers, doubling its current base, by 2028 and accelerating coverage to 90 million households in the same time period.
• Verizon will commercially launch its advanced mmWave solution for apartment and office buildings to address high population areas. The technology leverages existing infrastructure making it less expensive to build and faster to deploy. Continued deployment of C-band and mmWave will provide the performance and capacity needed to meet these goals and deliver the best-in-class experience that customers expect from Verizon.
  
  

Fiber network expected to grow to 35-40 million passings

• Verizon will continue to look for opportunities to accelerate its ongoing Fios builds within the current footprint in nine states and Washington, D.C., giving more customers access to the industry-leading product. Verizon's recent agreement to acquire Frontier, the largest pure-play fiber internet provider in the U.S., is expected to expand Verizon's share of the nationwide broadband market, building upon Verizon's two decades of leadership at the forefront of fiber.
• Upon closing, Frontier is expected to bring in approximately 9-10 million fiber passings.
• In 2025 Verizon is targeting an expansion of Fios builds to up to 650,000 passings annually. Following the closing of the Frontier acquisition, Verizon expects the combined build to be up to 1 million or more passings annually.
• Verizon is expecting more than 30 million fiber passings in the combined Verizon/Frontier footprint by 2028. Over time, Verizon is expecting 35-40 million fiber passings. This will significantly expand Verizon's fiber footprint, accelerating the company's delivery of premium mobility and broadband services to current and new customers.
• Frontier's consumer fiber network can be immediately and seamlessly integrated upon closing directly into Verizon's award-winning Fios network, meeting existing Fios standards.
  
  

Outlook and Guidance: Priorities remain unchanged

• The company will maintain its capital allocation priorities, characterized by prudent investment in the business, a commitment to maintaining an industry-leading dividend, continued debt reduction, and efficient return of cash to shareholders, with buybacks to be considered when net unsecured debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio* is at 2.25x.
• For 2025, the company expects capital expenditures of $17.5-$18.5 billion, consistent with historical levels of capital intensity.
• Revised net unsecured debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio* target of 2.0 to 2.25x.
  
  

*Non-GAAP financial measure. See www.verizon.com/about/investors for additional information about non-GAAP financial measures.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. ((NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "hopes," "intends," "plans," "targets" or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate, including the inability to successfully respond to competitive factors such as prices, promotional incentives and evolving consumer preferences; failure to take advantage of, or respond to competitors' use of, developments in technology and address changes in consumer demand; performance issues or delays in the deployment of our 5G network resulting in significant costs or a reduction in the anticipated benefits of the enhancement to our networks; the inability to implement our business strategy; adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies, including inflation and changing interest rates in the markets in which we operate; cyber attacks impacting our networks or systems and any resulting financial or reputational impact; damage to our infrastructure or disruption of our operations from natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, acts of war, terrorist attacks or other hostile acts and any resulting financial or reputational impact; disruption of our key suppliers' or vendors' provisioning of products or services, including as a result of geopolitical factors or the potential impacts of global climate change; material adverse changes in labor matters and any resulting financial or operational impact; damage to our reputation or brands; the impact of public health crises on our operations, our employees and the ways in which our customers use our networks and other products and services; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks or businesses; allegations regarding the release of hazardous materials or pollutants into the environment from our, or our predecessors', network assets and any related government investigations, regulatory developments, litigation, penalties and other liability, remediation and compliance costs, operational impacts or reputational damage; our high level of indebtedness; significant litigation and any resulting material expenses incurred in defending against lawsuits or paying awards or settlements; an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; changes in tax laws or regulations, or in their interpretation, or challenges to our tax positions, resulting in additional tax expense or liabilities; changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; and risks associated with mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions, including our ability to consummate the proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. and obtain cost savings, synergies and other anticipated benefits within the expected time period or at all.

Media contacts:

Katie Magnotta

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