Verizon COO expects AT&T/T-Mobile deal approval

A view shows the AT&T store sign in Broomfield, Colorado April 20, 2011.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The next head of Verizon Communications (VZ.N) expects U.S. regulators to approve rival AT&T Inc's (T.N) proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA due to the company's need for more wireless airwaves.

"I'd say the merger will probably go through. It's a merger AT&T probably had to do," Verizon Chief Operating Officer Lowell McAdam said in a webcast of the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference.

McAdam, who is slated to become chief executive of Verizon by year end, said the deal made sense for AT&T, which needs more wireless airwaves, and that the only surprising aspect was that it did not happen sooner.

In contrast, Sprint Nextel (S.N), the No. 3 U.S. mobile service, has been loudly urging U.S. regulators to reject the AT&T/ T-Mobile USA deal for fear of damage to competition.

The acquisition will vault No. 2 U.S. mobile service AT&T and No. 4 U.S. mobile service T-Mobile USA well ahead of current market leader Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L). T-Mobile USA is a unit of Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE).

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Matthew Lewis)