Verizon is reportedly close to a deal to purchase fiber supplier Frontier Communications. On Wednesday, The Wall Road Journal stated that an announcement may come as early as this week, offered discussions don’t “hit any last-minute snags.”

Frontier has a market worth of over $7 billion and offers broadband to round three million places in 25 states. The corporate would assist Verizon enhance its Fios fiber community and higher compete with AT&T. The service has seen slowing wi-fi income and views fiber funding as a development space. Buying firms with present infrastructure, like Frontier, is probably inexpensive and time-consuming than rolling out its personal community.

Primarily based in Dallas, Frontier is at present upgrading its copper landline system to fiber — enabling it to supply a 5Gbps symmetrical plan. The corporate filed for Chapter 11 chapter in 2020. It pivoted to a “leaner enterprise,” because the WSJ describes, earlier than operating into considerations that it might run out of cash earlier than it finishes its present upgrades.

The FTC sued the corporate in 2021 for misrepresenting its speeds. Underneath a 2022 settlement, Frontier was required to cease mendacity about its web efficiency, dole out over $8.5 million and set up fiber service in 60,000 California houses over 4 years.