VZ Wireless Names CTO

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Anthony Melone, a seasoned telecommunications executive with extensive experience and expertise in the operation, administration and expansion of the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, has been named senior vice president and chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless, the company announced today.

Formerly vice president of the company’s network operations, Melone has assumed full responsibility for heading the team that supports the technology, architecture, planning, design, and operation of the coast to coast wireless voice and data network that serves more than 62 million customers over more than two million square miles. He will be responsible for managing the company’s intensive network capital investment program – $6.6 billion in 2006 and $3.4 billion in the first half of this year – to enhance and expand the company’s nationwide wireless network. He succeeds Dick Lynch who last month was named chief technology officer of Verizon Communications, which is joint owner with UK-based Vodafone of Verizon Wireless.

“Tony’s experience and expertise will serve us well as we continue to strengthen our greatest competitive advantage – the nation’s most reliable wireless network – by making it even better,” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless. “Our network strength is one of the key reasons more customers choose Verizon Wireless more than any other wireless brand in the U.S. With Tony’s leadership, we’ll continue to deliver a great wireless experience to our current customers, and those we will win over in the future with our network advantage.”

Melone said: “We will continue to make the reliability and reach of our quality wireless network our number one advantage by growing in new markets, enhancing coverage in existing markets and developing new products and services.”

Melone has 25 years of telecommunications experience, including operations and engineering positions of increasing responsibility within several operating companies of the former Bell Atlantic. He joined Bell Atlantic Mobile’s network operations group in 1996, and in 2000 was named staff vice president of network planning and administration when Verizon Wireless was formed.

Most recently, Melone served as vice president of network operations at Verizon Wireless. In this role, Melone was responsible for Verizon Wireless’ nationwide network operations, including overall quality assurance, implementation of new products and services within the network and ensuring regulatory compliance. Under his leadership, the company doubled its fleet of network test vehicles and its team of performance engineers, who formed the basis for the company’s popular test man advertising campaign. Ninety-eight vehicles now travel the nation’s highways testing the company’s call quality and coverage, as well as its competitors’ performance, to ensure Verizon Wireless maintains the nation’s most reliable wireless network.

Verizon Wireless