AT & T purchases 95 % of the quantum fibers in LUMEN. Will prices rise?

The company announced in a statement on Wednesday that AT&T buy about 95 % of LUMEN’s quantum fiber service for $ 5.75 billion.

At & T Fiber is currently available to 12.77 % of American families, while quantum fibers reaches 2.26 %, according to what he said Latest FCC data. according to BloombergThe sale is expected to be closed in the first half of next year.

“This deal with Lumen is a major investment in US Communication Infrastructure,” John Stanke, AT&T CEO, said in a statement. “With our progress in building our fiber, we will serve more global communication societies and expect to double as AT & T fibers are available by the end of 2030.”

It was a few days crowded in the world of broad domain, with an announcement Verizon won the approval of the Federal Communications Committee To purchase Frontier’s Fiber and A charter announces a merger with Cox Only last week. Now, AT & T- Indeed the most long-term fiber Internet provider In the country – you will add one million other customers with quantum fibers. LUMEN also runs the DSL network through its trademark.

I have been covering the wide broadcast industry for seven years, and I can tell you that Internet service providers love mergers and brands. But I saw nothing just like this. Through their number, six of the 10 largest Internet service providers participate by subscribers to these three deals.

Assuming that they are going through, nearly half of the country 132.6 million online connections It will be delivered by one of three sponsors – this jumps to 72 % if you add COMCAST.

“The major companies have different theories from the best way to get more, but they all agree that there are still wide advantages to achieve them,” said Blair Levin, Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) and New Street Research. “Since the wide range markets are fully penetrated – this is everyone who wants and can buy the wide range of a customer – the feature in the future will be low cost structures through the advantages of the range.”

There is not much market overlap between companies that join efforts, so it will not necessarily wake up to find a lower internet option. But we already have the problem of Internet monopoly in this country, with more than a third of Americans who have the right to access to one or non -internet provider, according to what he said Latest FCC data.

Will the prices of fibers increase?

You will not see any changes immediately, but this is an open question if the web bills are quantum fibers will rise as soon as the deal passes.

Currently, quantum fiber plans are $ 50 per month for 500 Mbps, compared to $ 65 for the same speeds through AT & T. Quantum Fiber also provides a “price for life” on all its plans, but stipulates that prices “are subject to the constant availability of the plan.”

“Although it is very early to comment on any pricing plans after acquisition, we continue to determine the priorities of our customers first and we are proud of the great value we offer to customers today with AT & T” fibers.