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Verizon Raises 2026 Forecasts and Signs $2 Billion-Plus AWS AI Network Deal

Verizon lifted its 2026 postpaid-phone and adjusted-EPS outlook and signed a $2 billion-plus agreement with AWS to provide high-capacity fibre connectivity for data centres.

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Oct 27, 2026 - 05:08

Oct 27, 2026 - 05:12

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Verizon corporate logo (file image). Source: Design Your Way.

Verizon Raises 2026 Forecasts and Signs $2 Billion-Plus AWS AI Network Deal

Verizon raised its 2026 forecasts after a stronger-than-expected third quarter and signed an agreement worth more than $2 billion with Amazon Web Services for high-capacity fibre connectivity serving AWS data centres.

Forecasts move higher

The company now expects to add 1.1 million to 1.2 million postpaid phone subscribers in 2026, compared with its earlier 750,000-to-1 million range. Verizon also raised its full-year adjusted earnings-per-share forecast to $5.04-$5.06 from $4.99-$5.04, according to Reuters. These are company forecasts, not reported final results.

Verizon added 406,000 monthly-bill-paying wireless subscribers in the third quarter, nearly twice Visible Alpha’s analyst estimate cited by Reuters. Total third-quarter revenue was $34.3 billion, below the $34.74 billion analyst estimate, and the company’s shares fell 2.5% in early trading. That was a premarket or early-session move, not a closing price.

Fibre becomes an AI asset

Under the AWS agreement, Verizon will provide high-capacity fibre-optic connectivity for AWS data centres. Verizon’s official release describes the deal as a commercial framework valued at more than $2 billion to scale distributed compute for agentic and generative AI workloads.

The agreement concerns network connectivity. The company is selling infrastructure and services to support computing workloads.

CEO Dan Schulman told Reuters Verizon was also discussing dark or lit fibre connectivity with other hyperscalers, neocloud providers and large enterprises. Those talks are not confirmed contracts.

Subscriber growth versus device upgrades

Verizon said lower device-upgrade volumes pressured equipment revenue after it began cutting device subsidies, and Reuters reported the company expects that trend to continue in the fourth quarter. The official release said total operating revenue rose 1.5% year on year to $34.3 billion, while mobility and broadband service revenue increased 2.9%.

The result is a mixed picture: stronger subscriber additions and a higher outlook alongside pressure in device revenue.