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Some major integration is afoot in the world of internet communications — and it will have implications for competition and consumer net approach in the United States . On Thursday , Verizonannouncedthat it would gobble up Frontier Communications for $ 20 billion — more than double Frontier ’s market cap at the finale of trading the nighttime before .

Frontier offer internet , phone and TV services — it has also partnered with companies likeGoogleandAmazonover the twelvemonth to bundle other digital services or find new distribution channel . But Verizon ’s big interest in the company is its vulcanized fiber concern and the fact that it extend to places that Verizon does not presently encompass as well .

Originally based in Tampa , Frontier currently has 2.2 million customers across 25 states , include the moneymaking market of Washington , DC . It ’s building out its internet and be after to touch 10 million dwelling by 2026 , up from 7 million today . Verizon , fag in mysterious on its telecom roots under CEO Hans Vestberg , has been working on expanding its own Fios fiber connection . Combined , the twain plow 25 million home plate .

This is a reasonably karmic turn of events . In 2009 , Frontieracquiredsome of Verizon ’s legacy local exchange business for $ 8.5 billion . Adjusted for inflation , that ’s around $ 12.5 billion 2024 dollars .

“ The acquisition of Frontier is a strategic fit , ” said Vestberg in a statement . “ It will work up on Verizon ’s two decades of leadership at the head of fiber and is an opportunity to become more private-enterprise in more markets throughout the United States , raise our ability to deliver premium offerings to 1000000 more customers across a combined fibre mesh . ”

Verizon reiterated its guidance for the year at the same time it announce the acquisition , and that points to another reason for the acquisition . Wireless revenues are due to develop between just 2 % and 3.5 % ( as a point of comparing , they grow more than 8 % in 2014 ) , and Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization is anticipate to mature between 1 % and 3 % . add together more customers and reach is a bet on fiber ’s staying might and hope to cancel those figures .