Google Fiber will merge with Astound Broadband after Alphabet sells a majority stake to private equity firm Stonepeak, creating a national cable and fiber provider with 7.1 million service locations across 26 states. The $7.1 billion deal combines Astound’s cable-heavy network (892,000 fiber locations) with Google’s fiber-focused infrastructure, covering Texas and Illinois as growth hubs. Analysts note the merged entity will compete with AT&T (53% market overlap) and Comcast (46%) in key markets, though overlapping service areas are minimal (109,000 locations in Texas).