Verizon is expanding its artificial intelligence activities, securing almost $4bn in AI Connect contracts while advancing its collaboration with Ericsson to introduce AI-powered network automation.
The new AI Connect agreements include a dark fibre contract worth more than $2bn with Amazon Web Services (AWS), building on an earlier agreement with Google. The contracts will provide high-capacity fibre connections between data centres, supporting the infrastructure required to develop and operate large-scale AI applications.
Verizon is also seeing demand from hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises for dark fibre, lit fibre and edge computing services. The company expects revenue from AI Connect customer agreements to become more significant during 2027.
Separately, Verizon and Ericsson are progressing plans to introduce AI-native automation across Verizon’s radio access network. Their collaboration will involve a nationwide rollout of Ericsson’s Intelligent Controller, supporting AI-powered applications designed to improve network performance, throughput and operational efficiency.
Initial deployments have demonstrated improvements in data speeds, including gains of up to 8.9% in downlink throughput and 8% in uplink throughput. Verizon also plans to introduce further applications to improve network management and move towards greater network autonomy.
The developments position Verizon to expand its role in AI infrastructure while improving the efficiency of its existing telecommunications network.
Verizon is a portfolio holding of Global Opportunities Trust plc, representing 2.9% of net assets as at 30 September 2026, according to its latest published portfolio holdings.
Global Opportunities Trust plc (LON:GOT) invests globally in undervalued asset classes without reference to the composition of any stock market index.
