Verizon Communications

Former major AdTech player through Verizon Media; now focused on telecommunications with advertising partnerships

Verizon Communications is a major telecommunications conglomerate that has played a significant role in the digital advertising ecosystem, primarily through its former Verizon Media division (now Yahoo). The company leveraged its extensive telecommunications infrastructure, first-party data from millions of wireless and broadband customers, and owned media properties to create a substantial advertising business. Verizon Media encompassed major digital brands including Yahoo, AOL, TechCrunch, and HuffPost, providing advertisers with access to billions of monthly page views and extensive audience reach across display, video, native, and search advertising formats. In 2021, Verizon sold its media division (Verizon Media) to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion, which was subsequently rebranded as Yahoo. This strategic divestiture allowed Verizon to refocus on its core telecommunications business while exiting the direct AdTech operations. However, Verizon continues to participate in the advertising ecosystem through its telecommunications services, including location-based advertising capabilities, customer data insights (within privacy regulations), and partnerships with advertising platforms. The company maintains relevance in AdTech through its massive customer base and network infrastructure that enables mobile advertising and data-driven marketing solutions.