The New York Times is running a story today that concludes Verizon's best move is not to try and buy out Vodafone's 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. Earlier this week we discussed the rumor, which was re-ignited after AT&T's proposed buyout of BellSouth.
Besides, the price tag for the Vodafone stake — about $40 billion, and possibly more — could alarm credit agencies and investors who are already worried about the cost of Verizon's plan to extend fiber optic cables to six million homes by the end of 2006, and the integration of the long-distance carrier, MCI, which Verizon bought in January for $8.5 billion.
[via Tech Dirt]