TLDR: Verizon Business and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are expanding their collaboration with a new ‘Verizon AI Connect’ deal. This initiative involves Verizon constructing high-capacity, low-latency fiber routes to interconnect AWS data centers, specifically designed to support the demanding requirements of generative AI applications and accelerate AI innovation.
In a significant move to bolster the infrastructure underpinning the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, Verizon Business and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced an expanded partnership. The collaboration, dubbed ‘Verizon AI Connect,’ will see Verizon construct new, long-haul, high-capacity fiber pathways to connect AWS data center locations. This strategic development is aimed at providing the resilient, high-capacity, and low-latency network infrastructure essential for the next wave of AI innovation, particularly generative AI applications.
The demand for such advanced networking capabilities stems from the incredibly data-intensive nature of generative AI. Training large AI models and running complex applications require the movement of enormous amounts of information between data centers. Existing digital infrastructure can often create bottlenecks, impeding the speed of innovation. The new fiber network is designed to act as a dedicated, high-speed conduit for AI traffic, ensuring enhanced performance and reliability crucial for businesses developing and scaling cutting-edge AI solutions.
Scott Lawrence, SVP and Chief Product Officer at Verizon Business, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “AI will be essential to the future of business and society, driving innovation that demands a network to match.” He added that this deal with Amazon demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of AI workloads for businesses and developers.
Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice president of AWS Infrastructure Services, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that “The next wave of innovation will be driven by generative AI, which requires a combination of secure, scalable cloud infrastructure and flexible, high-performance networking.” He further noted that this collaboration would enable high-performance network connections, ensuring customers across various industries can build and deliver compelling, secure, and reliable AI applications at scale.
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While the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the partnership underscores the intense race among cloud and telecom giants to meet the surging data and network demands from generative AI. Telecom operators are increasingly seen as critical enablers of the emerging AI-driven economy, complementing the brisk growth reported by cloud providers driven by AI workloads. This agreement deepens Verizon’s long-standing strategic relationship with AWS, which already includes joint work on private mobile edge computing and Verizon’s adoption of AWS as a preferred cloud provider for its digital transformation initiatives.
