Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Frontier, Verizon, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and

Frontier Communication (NYSE: FTR), a provider of telecommunications services as an incumbent local exchange carrier, completed its acquisition of Verizon Communications’ (NYSE: VZ) local wireline operations across 14 states for $5.3 billion.

Frontier focuses mainly on small towns and rural areas. With the acquisition, the company has taken control over 4.8 million Verizon phone lines, tripling its size to become the largest rural-only service provider in the United States. Frontier will now offer voice, satellite video, high-speed internet, wireless Internet data access, FiOS and other services to more than 4 million residential and business customers in 27 states.

Frontier is expanding its high-speed Internet and satellite TV subscriber bases through aggressive bundled service offerings and promotional initiatives. Momentum for Frontier’s satellite video service remains strong attributable to aggressive promotional initiatives and increased market penetration of “Triple-Play” (video, voice and Internet) bundled services which the company offers in collaboration with Echostar's DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH).

The merger with Verizon wireline operations enhance Frontier’s broadband deployment and high speed lines in institutions such as libraries, hospitals and government buildings in un-served and under-served communities. Frontier will deploy high-speed Internet of at least 3 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream to at least 85% of transferred lines by the end of 2013, and increase the speed to at least 4 Mbps downstream by the end of 2015.

Frontier remains significantly challenged by the fragile economic condition in its service territories and competes with the loss of legacy fixed telephony business to wireless and other competitive offerings. Approximately 65% of Frontier’s access lines are exposed to cable voice service offerings.

The persistent decline in access lines continues to tighten local service revenue, which accounts for most of Frontier’s overall revenues. The growing presence of Time Warner Cable’s (NYSE: TWC) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offerings in Rochester (Frontier’s largest non-rural market representing 25% of its total access lines) further impedes the company’s addressable market.

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) moved a step ahead regarding its previously announced spin-off of its Mobile Devices and Home businesses by renaming the newly formed separate entities.

The Mobile Devices

The Mobile Devices and Home Division will be renamed as Motorola Mobility and the Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks businesses will be known as Motorola Solutions.