GFiber and Astound Broadband Merge to Form New Independent Fiber Giant
Google has officially announced a significant merger: its GFiber internet division will be combining with Astound Broadband. Under the terms of this agreement, Stonepeak, Astound's parent company, is set to become the majority owner of the newly formed entity, while Alphabet will maintain a minority stake. Specific financial details regarding the transaction were not disclosed in the press release.
The newly combined business will operate as an independent internet service provider. Its leadership will be drawn from GFiber’s executive team, who, according to Google, will leverage their extensive expertise in high-speed fiber innovation to manage the integrated network footprint. Astound Broadband currently serves over one million customers across the United States. By joining forces, Google anticipates that these two providers will significantly enhance internet access for a greater number of communities.
GFiber, previously known as Google Fiber, has been active in the broadband market for nearly 15 years. It currently offers internet speeds of up to 8 Gigabits per second (Gbps) through its 'Edge 8 Gig' plan, priced at $150 per month. A 20 Gig service was previously projected to move out of its early access phase later in 2026.
This fiber broadband service is part of Alphabet’s 'Other Bets' portfolio, a segment that also encompasses other ventures such as Waymo, Verily, and Wing. Reports from CNBC indicate that this combined 'Other Bets' segment recorded an operating loss of $16.8 billion in 2025. The completion of the deal between Alphabet and Stonepeak is contingent upon receiving all necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of the current year.
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