Verizon has agreed to acquire fixed wireless broadband services provider Starry for an undisclosed price. Starry currently serves nearly 100,000 multi-dwelling unit (MDU) customers in five markets: Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Washington, D.C.
Subject to regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
Verizon calls the acquisition of Starry a strategic move that will help advance the company’s ability to provide high-speed internet MDUs and urban communities, using Starry’s millimeter wave technology.
“As the #1 mobility provider, Verizon’s acquisition of Starry is another step to extend our leadership in mobility and broadband,” Joe Russo, Verizon executive vice president and president of global networks and technology, said in a prepared statement about the Starry acquisition.
“Starry has demonstrated a unique and efficient approach to delivering high-speed internet in complex MDU environments. By integrating their technology and expertise, we will accelerate our fixed wireless access capabilities, giving millions of new customers a powerful and affordable broadband option. This architecture is less expensive to build, quicker to deploy, and uniquely addresses the complexities of urban settings where we can leverage our existing fiber and mmWave assets.”
The acquisition of Starry is the latest attempt by Verizon to expand its capabilities. The company recently announced the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum, which will work with Ericsson, Samsung Electronics, Nokia, Meta, and Qualcomm Technologies to identify use cases, services, and network technologies for the nascent standard.
“Verizon is consistently at the forefront of network innovation. We were the first in the world to turn up 5G and continue to enhance our best, most reliable and fastest 5G network in ways that open the door to possibilities far beyond what we can imagine today,” Joe Russo, Verizon executive vice president and president of global networks and technology said about the announcement.
