Verizon Communications Inc. is a leading American telecommunications company established in 1983 as Bell Atlantic, one of the “Baby Bells” formed after the breakup of AT&T. Over the years, it grew through strategic mergers — notably with NYNEX in 1997 and GTE in 2000 — and rebranded as Verizon, a fusion of the Latin veritas (“truth”) and horizon. Headquartered in New York City, Verizon is the world’s second-largest telecom provider by revenue and operates the largest wireless network in the U.S., serving over 146 million subscribers as of mid-2025. Its business spans mobile and fixed telephony, broadband (including Fios), digital and internet TV, IoT, and enterprise solutions.