Verizon To Transform Agfa's Global Network Infrastructure

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) recently announced that it has inked a definitive agreement with the Agfa-Gevaert Group (Agfa), for an undisclosed amount, to revamp the global network infrastructure of the latter. The strategic deal will enable the Belgium-based digital imaging products manufacturer to better serve its customers across the globe.

Per the agreement, managed network services and software-defined networking solutions of Verizon Enterprise Solutions will facilitate a radical transformation of Agfa’s network infrastructure. This, in turn, will help deliver a flexible, scalable and agile global infrastructure that will ease the transition to state-of-the-art technologies to fuel future growth.

Notably, Verizon will free up Agfa’s IT staff from the responsibility of managing its global network, and enable them to instead focus on innovation in service and solution delivery. Moreover, deployment of software-defined network solutions will equip Agfa to better adapt to the dynamic network infrastructure needs, in order to effectively compete with its rivals.

With one of the most efficient wireless networks in the United States, Verizon continues to deploy the latest 4G LTE Advanced technologies to deliver faster peak data speeds and capacity for customers, driven by customer-focused planning, disciplined engineering and constant strategic investment. The company has been aggressively foraying ahead, in a bid to expand its fiber optics networks to support 4G LTE and upcoming 5G wireless standards, as well as wireline connections. Verizon has gained 25.8% in the past six months compared with growth of 8.9% recorded by the industry.

Verizon currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the industry are ATN International, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI) sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Sprint Corporation (NYSE:S) and Telenav, Inc. (NASDAQ:TNAV) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ATN International has trumped earnings estimates thrice in the preceding four quarters, the average positive surprise being 138.1%.

Sprint has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.6%. It surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, generating an average positive earnings surprise of 320.8%.

Telenav has outpaced earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 12%.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

Click here for the 6 trades >>