Justin Melnikoff has extensive experience in leading business operations and growth for telecom industry leaders. Prior to his current position with MOX Networks, Melnikoff served as President and Chief Operating Officer for six years and Executive VP of Corporate Development for the three years before that. Previously, he held positions at Sidera Networks (now part of Crown Castle) and The Heiden Group.
What is the significance of Atlantic Convergence 2024 to you?
From a geological standpoint, the Atlantic basin was forged by the monumental convergence of tectonic plates, which shaped the world as we know it. Similarly, Atlantic Convergence 2024 embodied the meeting of transformative forces—visionary digital infrastructure leaders—who are redefining the Atlantic basin’s role in the world’s digital infrastructure today and charting its path for tomorrow.
For three exciting days in Lisbon, hundreds of digital infrastructure thought leaders made new business contacts, exchanged ideas, and discussed how the Internet needs to evolve quickly to maximize the promise of AI.
How does RVA757 Connects fit into the overall interconnection ecosystem model, which encompasses the convergence of subsea and terrestrial fiber, subsea cables, neutral IX, and data centers?
One of the main threads of Atlantic Convergence 2024 was that collaboration and coordination between neighboring communities—particularly around the synergistic development of digital resources, assets, and connections—is the way of the future; competition will no longer be effective for meeting next-generation digital infrastructure needs. This logic affirms that RVA757 Connects is practicing tomorrow’s model today. We are the 12th largest US megaregion comprising two neighboring cities—Richmond (Virginia’s capital) and Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach–Norfolk). We are already working together, combining our digital infrastructure assets and connections into a united GlobaLOCALization digital ecosystem.
Located just 90 minutes south of Northern Virginia’s Data Center Alley, our megaregion is called the I-64 Innovation Corridor. Business and higher education leaders came together five years ago to create RVA757 Connects to drive critical digital infrastructure priorities and investments. Our goal is to become the world’s next Global Internet Hub (GIH) and first equitable digital society—as a megaregion. In addition to expanding and attracting unprecedented investment in mission-critical infrastructure like subsea cables, Internet Exchanges, network rings, and affordable housing, we created our GIH Strategic Plan with the help of 60-plus people across 10 categories—such as military, digital infrastructure companies, chambers, economic development agencies, and universities—to ensure representation across our collaborative process.
What do you expect from Atlantic Convergence 2025?
Based on the caliber of Atlantic Convergence’s first-year attendees, the topics covered, and the discerning discussions that unfolded, I have no doubt that Atlantic Convergence is on a trajectory to become THE premier thought leadership conference for the global digital infrastructure industry. This space is where the brightest minds and boldest innovators will converge annually to shape the future of the Internet.
