wireless

2025 Virginia 500: Telecommunications

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: KEEGAN, MICHAEL

As CEO of TNS since 2013, Keegan is responsible for setting global strategy for the privately held networking, integrated data and voice services provider. TNS was acquired by a Koch Industries subsidiary in 2021, and in 2022, TNS acquired Agnity Global, a provider of intelligent business communication applications and infrastructure to organizations in the telecommunications […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: HALLBACH, MAGGIE

With more than two decades at Verizon, Hallbach served in a number of senior executive positions before being promoted to her current position in 2022. Verizon Public Sector is the telecommunication company’s government contracting arm and is responsible for Verizon Frontline, a 5G communications service for first responders. In January, the U.S. Air Force selected […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: ANDERSON, WES

After 26 years of working for Microsoft, Anderson began a new venture at AT&T in December 2024. He transitioned in February to his current role as president of public sector and corporate officer, where he leads a team of 3,200 employees who deliver advanced communications and technologies including 5G, fiber and professional services to government […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: MERRITT, JEFF

Merritt is responsible for leading more than 1,000 employees in Hampton Roads, Cox’s largest market in Virginia, representing more than 60% of the home and business telecommunications and cable TV provider’s customer base in the state. Nationwide, Cox Communications, a division of Cox Enterprises, sees annual revenues of more than $13 billion. In the role, […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: DESCH, MATTHEW J.

Desch joined Iridium as CEO in 2006, took the company public in 2009 and subsequently replaced its first-generation network with new satellites that are expected to last into the mid to late 2030s. Last year, after the global satellite communications company acquired Reston-based Satelles, Iridium unveiled the Iridium Satellite Time and Location service, which is […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: FRENCH, CHRISTOPHER E.

In April 2024, Shentel completed its acquisition of Horizon Telcom, a commercial fiber provider, for $385 million. The combined company has approximately 15,400 fiber route miles across seven states. Shentel rebranded the Horizon commercial and residential fiber businesses to Glo Fiber. Shentel’s 2024 revenue increased 21.9%, to $328.1 million, mostly due to $47.7 million of […]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2025: MORCHE, ED

Morche, a telecommunications industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, joined GTT in 2023 after serving as president of Lumen Technologies’ North American Enterprise and Public Sector business. He worked at CenturyLink, which rebranded as Lumen in 2020, and Level 3 Communications, leading the consolidation of multiple commercial and technical organizations following Level […[...]

Lexington tech firm aims to bridge last-mile broadband gap

Broadband access may become easier to attain for businesses as a Lexington-based company looks to wirelessly transmit data more reliably. Over the past 22 years, Attochron has been working towards improving what’s referred to in the industry as free-space optical communications (FSOC) — using lasers to send data through air instead of via fiber optic […]

Shentel to sell cell towers portfolio for $310.3M

Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel) has entered into an agreement to sell its portfolio of cellular towers and associated operations to Vertical Bridge Holdco for $310.3 million in cash, the Edinburg-based company announced Friday, a move that appears to largely transition Shentel out of the last remnants of its cellular phone business. Vertical Bridge is the nation’s […]