Googles GFiber internet business is merging with Astound Broadband

Big techGoogle’s GFiber internet business is merging with Astound BroadbandAlphabet will be a minority shareholder in the deal, which is expected to close later this year.Matt TateContributing reporterThu, March 12, 2026 at 1:28 PM UTCGoogle has announced that GFiber is merging with Astound Broadband, in an agreement that sees Astound’s parent company Stonepeak become the majority owner, with Alphabet retaining a minority stake.No financial specifics were detailed in a press release, but the new combined business will be an independent provider led by GFiber’s executive team, who Google says will use its "expertise in high-speed fiber innovation to manage the combined network footprint." Astound already serves over one million customers across the US, and by joining forces Google says the two providers will be able to grant better internet access to more communities.GFiber, formerly known as Google Fiber, has been around for nearly 15 years, and currently offers speeds of up to 8Gbps on its $150/month Edge 8 Gig plan.A 20 Gig service was expected to leave early access later in 2026.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe fiber broadband service is part of Alphabet’s "Other Bets" portfolio, which also includes Waymo, Verily, and Wing, a combined segment that recorded an operating loss of $16.8 billion in 2025, reports.The company’s deal with Stonepeak is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q4 of this year.