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If You're Waiting For a FiOS Expansion The Answer Is Still No

With the exception of major city franchise obligations (and even those have lots of wiggle room), Verizon all but ended their FiOS expansion plans more than half a decade ago. With so many un-served cities still begging to be upgraded Verizon continually has to remind folks that they're simply not interested in upgrading a large swath of their aging DSL markets. If you live in one of those un-upgraded cities like Buffalo, Boston, Baltimore or Alexandria, that's a tough pill to swallow.

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Still, Verizon continues to remind folks that if they're holding their breath for a new round of FiOS expansion, they really should stop if they'd like to survive. Speaking to investors at the Deutsche Bank 2015 Media, Internet & Telecom Conference, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo stated that outside of finishing up a few big city builds (like NYC), FiOS expansion is over.

"I have been pretty consistent with this in the fact that we will spend more CapEx in the Wireless side and we will continue to curtail CapEx on the Wireline side," Shammo said on an earnings conference call earlier this month. "Some of that is because we are getting to the end of our committed build around FiOS, penetration is getting higher."

Verizon has taken heat from consumer advocates from using natural disasters as cover for the company's disinterest in upgrading DSL networks. Verizon's refusing to repair damaged lines and has been pushing unwanted DSL customers toward cable for years, usually with a one-two punch of steep price hikes and service apathy. Verizon executives are for more interested in focusing on far more profitable (and much more expensive) wireless broadband services.

After recently selling all Florida, Texas and California assets to Frontier, Shammo said the company's happier with their geographically centralized east coast fixed line presence. Still, that doesn't mean there won't be more fixed-line asset sales on the east coast, as there's plenty of locations Verizon clearly has no interest in upgrading (upstate New York and massive swaths of Massachusetts come quickly to mind).

Most recommended from 61 comments



why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

4 recommendations

why60loss

Premium Member

Yep Verizon is going wireless only

Good luck DSL customers, be ready to be sold off not upgraded and then have non-service as they won't even be able to pay for men with trash bags to "fix" stuff.

Then Verizon will peak in wireless profit, lose value and see much lost chances to make bigger profits as AT&T, google and the cable co's take over all wire line stuff and get all the money.

As the cost for fiber drop, I think the more AT&T will do to bring gigapower as the same money will buy more upgrades and get more profit for the money spent. Google might become more interested in old FIOS markets owned by frontier and old DSL markets that became wireless only. (Areas that are run by ISPS loaded to the gills with dept. )

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

2 recommendations

batterup

Premium Member

Turn out the light the party is over.

Verizon is selling buildings the land line company owns, 540 Broad Street Newark, headquarters for Verizon NJ, is on the market. In 10 years Verizon will be wireless only. Enjoy.

davidc502
join:2002-03-06
Mount Juliet, TN

1 edit

2 recommendations

davidc502

Member

FiOS Upgrades or buy out another company?

Verizon (edit) boardroom talk ~~~~ Should we spend billions on FIOS upgrades, or spend the billions buying out more companies?

What do you think?

Certainly over-simplified, but I believe there's truth in there.