COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 513322

Radiotelephone Communications

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

56companies1853–1995founding years44still active12no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.
1853
FoundedMannesmann AG
1890
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedManitoba Telecom Services, Inc.FoundedOlivetti S.p.A.
1908
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedSBC Communications Inc.
1920
FoundedTelefónica S.A.
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedAudiovox Corporation
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedTetra Tech, Inc.
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedThe Titan Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedU.S. Cellular Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
1985
FoundedArch Wireless, Inc.FoundedSprint Corporation
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedQwest Communications International, Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAO VimpelCom
1992
FoundedEnergis plcFoundedMobile TeleSystems OJSC
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedWestern Wireless Corporation
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Mannesmann AG →
Active · founded 1890 · Germany
Mannesmann AG is a leading German telecom provider.
Mannesmann AG →
Active · founded 1890 · Germany
Mannesmann AG is a leading German telecom provider.
Alcatel S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1898 · France
France's second largest company in terms of market capitalization (after France Telecom), Alcatel S.A., formerly known…
Alcatel S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1898 · France
France's second largest company in terms of market capitalization (after France Telecom), Alcatel S.A., formerly known…
Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1908 · Canada
Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc.
Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1908 · Canada
Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc.
Olivetti S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1908 · Italy
Olivetti S.p.A.
Olivetti S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1908 · Italy
Olivetti S.p.A.
Rogers Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920 · Canada
The largest communications company in Canada, Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920 · Canada
The largest communications company in Canada, Rogers Communications Inc.
SBC Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
Originally one of the seven regional holding companies formed after the breakup of American Telephone & Telegraph…
SBC Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
Originally one of the seven regional holding companies formed after the breakup of American Telephone & Telegraph…
Telefónica S.A. →
Active · founded 1924 · Spain
Until the 1990s the government-controlled public company known since May 1988 as Telefónica de España, S.A.
Telefónica S.A. →
Active · founded 1924 · Spain
Until the 1990s the government-controlled public company known since May 1988 as Telefónica de España, S.A.
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group →
Active · founded 1954
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, a customer-owned cooperative, serves over 20,000 consumers in eight counties in…
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group →
Active · founded 1954
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, a customer-owned cooperative, serves over 20,000 consumers in eight counties in…
Audiovox Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1960
Audiovox Corporation is an international leader in the marketing of cellular telephones, consumer electronics, auto…
Audiovox Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1960
Audiovox Corporation is an international leader in the marketing of cellular telephones, consumer electronics, auto…
Tetra Tech, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Tetra Tech, Inc.
Tetra Tech, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Tetra Tech, Inc.
New World Development Company Limited →
Active · founded 1970 · Hong Kong
Since its founding in 1970, New World Development Company Limited has been a leader in Hong Kong's bustling commercial…
New World Development Company Limited →
Active · founded 1970 · Hong Kong
Since its founding in 1970, New World Development Company Limited has been a leader in Hong Kong's bustling commercial…
The Titan Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Historically, The Titan Corporation was a defense department contractor involved in areas such as wireless…
The Titan Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Historically, The Titan Corporation was a defense department contractor involved in areas such as wireless…
Unión Fenosa, S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1982 · Spain
Unión Fenosa, S.A.
Unión Fenosa, S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1982 · Spain
Unión Fenosa, S.A.
U.S. Cellular Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
U.S.
U.S. Cellular Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
U.S.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation →
Active · founded 1985 · Japan
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) is the largest telecommunications firm in the world.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation →
Active · founded 1985 · Japan
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) is the largest telecommunications firm in the world.
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
Arch Wireless, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
With a new name and a new corporate identity, Arch Wireless, Inc.
Arch Wireless, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
With a new name and a new corporate identity, Arch Wireless, Inc.
Sprint Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
Sprint Corporation is the private holding company for two publicly traded firms, Sprint FON and Sprint PCS.
Sprint Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
Sprint Corporation is the private holding company for two publicly traded firms, Sprint FON and Sprint PCS.
Centennial Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1988
In the United States, Centennial Communications Corporation owns and operates cellular systems in two regional clusters…
Centennial Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1988
In the United States, Centennial Communications Corporation owns and operates cellular systems in two regional clusters…
Qwest Communications International, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1988
From its origins as a fiber-optic network-building subsidiary of Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Qwest…
Qwest Communications International, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1988
From its origins as a fiber-optic network-building subsidiary of Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Qwest…
AO VimpelCom →
Active · founded 1992 · Russia
AO VimpelCom keeps people connected in Russia, providing cellular phone services under the BeeLine brand name on either…
AO VimpelCom →
Active · founded 1992 · Russia
AO VimpelCom keeps people connected in Russia, providing cellular phone services under the BeeLine brand name on either…
Telstra Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1992 · Australia
Telstra Corporation Limited is a full-service telecommunications, information services, and network platform company…
Telstra Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1992 · Australia
Telstra Corporation Limited is a full-service telecommunications, information services, and network platform company…
Energis plc →
Active · founded 1993 · United Kingdom
Energis plc is a leading provider of telecommunications and e-commerce solutions to the business market in the United…
Energis plc →
Active · founded 1993 · United Kingdom
Energis plc is a leading provider of telecommunications and e-commerce solutions to the business market in the United…
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS) provides cellular phone service to nearly 13 million subscribers in Russia and…
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS) provides cellular phone service to nearly 13 million subscribers in Russia and…
TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1993 · Mexico
TV Azteca, S.A.
TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1993 · Mexico
TV Azteca, S.A.
Western Wireless Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Western Wireless Corporation is a leading operator of wireless cellular telephone systems, marketing its service under…
Western Wireless Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Western Wireless Corporation is a leading operator of wireless cellular telephone systems, marketing its service under…
American Tower Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Boston, Massachusetts-based American Tower Corporation (ATC) is the leading independent owner, operator, and developer…
American Tower Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Boston, Massachusetts-based American Tower Corporation (ATC) is the leading independent owner, operator, and developer…
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