What an Astound-GFiber combo means to its broadband competitors

The proposed combination of GFiber and Astound Broadband didn't delve into much detail regarding the size of their composite footprint and what the deal might mean for both cable and telco competitors. However, a just-released study from New Street Research analysts Dave Barden and Vikash Harlalka provides some helpful answers to those questions. Citing data from the firm's proprietary Broadband Insights database, the analysts estimate the combined company will pass about 7.11 million locations (4.5 million for Astound and 2.6 million for GFiber) in parts of 26 states, overlapping in only three counties in Texas that serve roughly 109,000 locations. The GFiber-Astound combo will have the highest concentration in Texas and Illinois, they said. Though the tone of the transaction is focused on fiber, New Street Research points out that the combined company will have a nearly equal share of fiber-to-the-premises and hybrid fiber/coax locations.