Verizon Communications Inc. and Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. have entered into a new strategic partnership through which the carrier will use Array’s national portfolio of 4,400 towers to enhance its 5G network.
The multi-year deal permits Verizon to co-locate on several new Array Digital Infrastructure sites over the next several years for an established — though undisclosed — price.
“This strategic partnership with Array is a key part of our network tower management strategy,” Phillip French, Verizon vice president of engineering, said in a prepared statement.
“It provides us with the nimbleness and flexibility to manage our network portfolio efficiently. The streamlined agreement allows for greater cost efficiency and, most importantly, accelerates our ability to deploy advanced wireless technologies to Verizon customers across the nation.”
“Our partnership with Verizon, particularly with this new agreement, creates great opportunities for both organizations,” said Array Digital Infrstructure President and CEO Anthony Carlson. “We’re pleased to continue growing Array and strengthening our position as one of the leading tower companies in the United States.”
Array Digital Infrastructure, formerly known as UScellular, was in the news recently after the purchase of some of its spectrum by AT&T was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The $101.8 billion deal, first announced in early November 2024, was part of Array Digital Infrastructure’s effort to divest itself of licenses that were not included in the company’s acquisition by T-Mobile.
The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau portrayed the deal as posing little risk and agreed that a significant upside potential exists. But the Rural Wireless Association (RWA) released a statement criticizing the FCC decision and a decision related to a different Verizon/Array Digital Infrastructure deal than the one announced today.
“These two staff level decisions, along with an expected decision allowing Verizon to acquire UScellular spectrum collectively, amount to the death of mobile wireless competition,” RWA outside counsel Carri Bennet said in the statement.
