Who Owns Your Internet Provider? 2026 Rebrands, Mergers and Name Changes Explained
Updated
Several big internet providers changed hands in 2026. Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink fiber customers now belong to AT&T, Cox joined Charter (Spectrum), Frontier is part of Verizon, and WOW! went private. Your service keeps working through these deals, but your bill, app, email and equipment may change over the following months. Here is who owns what, and what to watch for.
2026 ownership changes at a glance
| Brand you know | Now owned by | Status (Oct 15, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink fiber | AT&T | Closed Feb 2, 2026; moving to AT&T Fiber |
| Cox | Charter (Spectrum) | Closed Aug 20, 2026; Spectrum stays the consumer brand |
| Frontier | Verizon | Frontier is now a Verizon company |
| WOW! | DigitalBridge and Crestview | Taken private |
| Vyve Broadband | Partly Cable One (Sparklight) | Purchase of the rest paused by a court order on Oct 9, 2026 |
| Brightspeed | Apollo funds | Former CenturyLink copper areas, sold by Lumen in 2022 |
Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink to AT&T
AT&T closed its purchase of Lumen’s consumer fiber business on February 2, 2026. That business sold service as Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink fiber. Customers are being moved to AT&T Fiber plans, billing and apps. Many former CenturyLink DSL areas are a separate story: they are now served by Brightspeed.
Cox to Charter
Charter closed its Cox deal on August 20, 2026. Spectrum remains the brand customers see, and Charter plans to rename the parent company Cox Communications. Cox customers should expect gradual moves to Spectrum plans and equipment.
Frontier to Verizon
Frontier is now a Verizon company. Verizon says the combined fiber network reaches almost 30 million homes and businesses in 31 states and Washington, D.C.
Your provider changed names? Check your options
A merger is a good time to compare. See which providers serve your address.
WOW!, Vyve and fiber joint ventures
WOW! was taken private by DigitalBridge and Crestview, so it no longer trades publicly; service continues under the WOW! name. Cable One, which runs Sparklight, owns part of Vyve Broadband’s parent and agreed to buy the rest, but a court paused that purchase on October 9, 2026 (see our Cable One page). T-Mobile has also bought into regional fiber providers, including Metronet, and sells those plans as T-Mobile Fiber in some areas.
What changes for customers
- Bills and apps: expect a new logo first, then a new account number or login.
- Email: legacy addresses usually keep working for a transition period. Watch for notices and update important accounts early.
- Equipment: you may be offered or required to swap routers when billing systems move.
- Prices: existing price locks are normally honored until they end. Keep a copy of your current terms.
A merger does not lock you in. If the new owner’s plans do not suit you, it is a good time to compare.
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