Verizon Business announced an agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide high-capacity, low-latency network infrastructure for the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.
The agreement is part of the Verizon AI Connect initiative launched in early 2025 and consists of a strategy and suite of products and solutions designed to manage AI resource-intensive workloads at scale.
Verizon AI Connect consists of a network infrastructure and product suite designed to help global enterprises deploy AI workloads at scale. This is said to integrate and “reimagine” existing assets such as power, space and cooling throughout the communications facility. Verizon’s One Fiber Infrastructure. Long distance, metro, local fiber and optical networks. and Verizon 5G networks offer features such as network slicing.
Verizon Business put the January 2025 announcement in context by noting that advanced AI training models require significant computing resources. He also cited research from McKinsey that estimates that 60-70% of AI workloads will move to real-time inference by 2030, outpacing current demand and creating an urgent need for low-latency, connected computing and security at the edge.
The deal with AWS will see Verizon build long-distance, high-capacity fiber routes to connect the hyperscaler’s data center locations. By doing so, Verizon said, AWS can continue to provide and scale secure, reliable, and high-performance cloud services for customers building and deploying advanced AI applications at scale.
Verizon already has a long-term strategic relationship with AWS, and the two companies have established several significant initiatives, including selecting AWS as the preferred strategic public cloud provider for digital transformation initiatives.
Additionally, Verizon emphasized that the fiber segment represents a significant commitment to building a network to enable the AI ecosystem to intelligently serve the exponential growth in data generated by AI.
The partnership also includes the joint development of private mobile edge computing services that provide secure, dedicated connectivity to enterprise customers. These existing collaborations are said to have delivered “significant” value to multiple industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to retail and entertainment, by combining Verizon’s network infrastructure and AWS’s cloud services.
Verizon believes its AI Connect service provides AWS with a resilient network path that enhances the performance and reliability of AI workloads backed by Verizon’s network.
“AI is essential to the future of business and society, driving innovation that requires networks to match,” said Scott Lawrence, senior vice president and chief product officer at Verizon Business. “This agreement with Amazon demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the growing demand for AI workloads for the enterprises and developers who are building the future.”
Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President of AWS Infrastructure Services, added: “The next wave of innovation will be driven by generative AI, which will require a combination of secure, scalable cloud infrastructure and flexible, high-performance networking.
“AWS joins forces with Verizon to enable high-performance network connectivity that enables customers across all industries to build and deliver compelling, secure, and reliable AI applications at scale. This partnership builds on our long-standing commitment to providing our customers with the most secure, powerful, and efficient cloud infrastructure available today.”
