ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DISH Network Corporation today announced that it has named wireless industry innovators Marc Rouanne and Stephen Bye to its executive wireless leadership team. Rouanne will serve as Chief Network Officer and Bye will serve as Chief Commercial Officer. Both will join DISH as executive vice presidents and report to DISH Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen.

"There isn't a pattern for the kind of network we are building in the United States and we need the best people in the world to make our vision of a virtualized standalone 5G broadband network a reality," said Ergen. "Marc and Stephen will help lead our work to redefine the American wireless landscape to the benefit of consumers."

As Chief Network Officer, Rouanne will oversee the strategy and architecture of the network, its core, and its cloud and edge strategies.

He brings more than 20 years of international management experience in the telecommunications industry, having held executive positions including President of Mobile Networks and Chief Innovation and Operating Officer of Nokia and chairman of the board of Alcatel-Lucent. He is an advocate of opening the traditionally closed systems in wireless networks. Under his leadership, Nokia was the first large telecommunications vendor to join groups such as the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), xRAN Forum and the O-RAN Alliance.

"A visionary and advocate for software-defined and natively automated networks, Marc will be the ideal partner and leader as we design and build the nation's first cloud-native 5G broadband network," said Ergen. "He brings a proven track record in delivering transformational innovation."

"I've been watching over the years as the DISH team has patiently assembled its incredible portfolio and refined its wireless vision," said Rouanne. "This team is positioned to deliver a paradigm shift to the American wireless landscape and I'm proud to help make the vision a reality."

Bye, most recently CEO of Connectivity Wireless, is a 28-year veteran of telecommunications and wireless who served as President of C-Spire and CTO of Sprint. He will lead the DISH wireless enterprise development team. The team's mission is to define, develop and market commercial applications, as well as establish strategic enterprise partnerships that are able to harness the unique architecture of DISH's software-defined 5G broadband network.

"Stephen shares our vision for the transformative power our 5G network will deliver to consumers and enterprises of all types," said Ergen. "He will play a critical role in developing and commercializing innovative and disruptive applications built around our unique capabilities like network slicing, flexible capacity management and massive connectivity."

"DISH is positioned to fundamentally redefine how we think about wireless at all levels, from the retail consumer to the largest enterprise and governmental use cases," said Bye. "This greenfield network, the first in a generation, will be an engine of innovation for our economy."

In addition to Rouanne and Bye, Ergen's direct reports include DISH President and CEO Erik Carlson and the following executives:

• Tom Cullen, EVP, Corporate Development, oversees the company's long-term strategic interests including new ventures, partner development and spectrum strategy.
• Jeff McSchooler, EVP, Wireless Operations, leads the team responsible for the physical construction and operation of DISH's national 5G broadband wireless network.
• Jeff Blum, SVP, Public Policy and Government Affairs, supervises state and federal government affairs in Washington, D.C.

Rouanne and Bye are expected to join DISH in December.

About Marc Rouanne:

To access a biography and downloadable photo of Marc Rouanne, click here.

About Stephen Bye:

To access a biography and downloadable photo of Stephen Bye, click here.

About DISH
DISH Network Corporation is a connectivity company. Since 1980, it has served as a disruptive force, driving innovation and value on behalf of consumers. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides television entertainment and award-winning technology to millions of customers with its satellite DISH TV and streaming Sling TV services. Through its strategic spectrum portfolio and other assets, DISH is poised to enter the wireless market as a facilities-based provider of wireless services with a nationwide consumer offering and development of the first virtualized, standalone 5G broadband network in the U.S. DISH's OnTech Smart Services brand offers in-home installation of connected home devices and entertainment solutions. DISH Media serves as the company's advertising sales group delivering targeted advertising solutions. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is a Fortune 250 company.

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SOURCE DISH Network Corporation