Verizon signs $1B dark fiber deal for Google data centers

Verizon announced a $1 billion dark fiber deal to connect Google data centers, which it says is the first of several similar agreements. The company expects meaningful AI-driven revenue from leasing fiber and retrofitting facilities for data center connectivity.

Why it matters: Telecoms are positioning themselves as infrastructure suppliers to the AI buildout rather than just app-layer players, similar to how chipmakers and utilities have struck multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure deals like Nvidia-SK Group's $500B pact. It's a sign the AI capital spending wave is now pulling in networking companies as a new category of beneficiary.