Verizon Communications Inc. is a leading global communications technology company headquartered in New York City. The company was formed on June 30, 2000, through the merger of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp., a landmark deal valued at approximately $52 billion that created one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States[1][3][5]. The name "Verizon" combines the Latin word veritas, meaning "truth," and horizon, reflecting the company's focus on reliability and forward-thinking vision[2][3]. At inception, Verizon became the largest local telephone company in the U.S., operating 63 million telephone lines across 40 states and inheriting 25 million mobile phone customers[2]. The newly formed company was led by co-CEOs Charles Lee (formerly of GTE) and Bell Atlantic CEO Ivan Seidenberg[2]. Verizon quickly expanded its offerings to include local, long-distance, and mobile calling, as well as internet services, initially in New York and Massachusetts before broadening its reach[2]. The company also launched 3G service in 2002, doubling internet speeds at the time[2]. Verizon has continually evolved through strategic acquisitions and technological innovation. Notable milestones include the acquisition of MCI in 2006, which strengthened its enterprise and long-distance services[5]. In 2015, Verizon acquired AOL, marking its entry into the media and advertising technology space, followed by the purchase of Yahoo! in 2017, combining both under the Oath (later Verizon Media) brand[5][6]. While Verizon sold 90% of its media group to Apollo Global Management in 2021, it retained a minority stake and refocused on its core communications and technology businesses[5][6]. Technologically, Verizon has been a pioneer in wireless networks, introducing the first large-scale 4G LTE network in the U.S. in 2010 and launching 5G mobile service in 2019, initially in Chicago and Minneapolis[6]. The company continues to push the boundaries of network speeds, recently achieving 5.5 Gbps download speeds using advanced 5G technologies[1]. Today, Verizon remains a major player in telecommunications, delivering wireless, broadband, and digital solutions to millions of customers daily[1]. The company is recognized for its extensive infrastructure, innovation in network technology, and ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and digital transformation—recently unveiling Verizon AI Connect to help businesses deploy AI at scale[1]. Despite divesting much of its media holdings, Verizon maintains a strong presence in the technology sector, consistently ranking among the world's most valuable brands and largest public companies by revenue[6].