Falling costs could put Verizon’s FiOS roll-out ahead of target

The carrier had originally said that its $20 billion FiOS network would cover 18 million US homes within two years, but it now believes falling prices will provide a boost.

“We think we can take our target up. We’re looking at that right now, in terms of the overall economics of doing that,” COO Denny Strigl told attendees of a Deutsche Bank conference.

“There may be some upside for us in number of homes passed without significantly changing the capital requirements.”

Strigl also said mobile venture Verizon Wireless was set to weather economic uncertainties - and the arrival of the hyped 3G iPhone. “We continue to be very alert to what Apple does. They certainly are a trendsetter in the industry. But I think overall we benefit from that,’ he said, noting Verizon smartphone sales have risen since the first iPhone launched last year.

He dismissed AT&T's hefty iPhone subsidy as a potential threat but acknowledged pricing “skirmishes” could be on the horizon. The operator's recent launch of a $100 monthly unlimited service plan has quadrupled high-end subscriber additions while slashing churn, he said.