COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 517110

Wired Telecommunications Carriers

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

28companies1851–2003founding years26still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedWestern Union Financial Services, Inc.FoundedWestern Union Financial Services, Inc.
1851
FoundedAT&T Corporation
1885
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedDobson Communications CorporationFoundedDobson Communications Corporation
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPT Astra International Tbk
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
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.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedTelcordia Technologies, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedTalk America Holdings, Inc.FoundedTalk America Holdings, Inc.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedCesky Telecom, a.s.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedPortugal Telecom SGPS S.A.FoundedPortugal Telecom SGPS S.A.
1994
FoundedTelenor ASA
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedEschelon Telecom, Inc.
1996
FoundedBroadwing CorporationFoundedBroadwing Corporation
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedBrasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
FoundedAbertis Infraestructuras, S.A.
2003
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

TDC A/S →
Active · Denmark
TDC A/S--formerly Tele Danmark, itself created from the former state-owned telephone monopoly--is Denmark's top…
TDC A/S →
Active · Denmark
TDC A/S--formerly Tele Danmark, itself created from the former state-owned telephone monopoly--is Denmark's top…
Western Union Financial Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1851
Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
Western Union Financial Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1851
Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
AT&T Corporation →
Active · founded 1885
AT&T Corporation organizes its business into two segments, business services and consumer services.
AT&T Corporation →
Active · founded 1885
AT&T Corporation organizes its business into two segments, business services and consumer services.
Dobson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1936
Dobson Communications Corporation is the ninth largest provider of wireless services in the United States, serving 1.6…
Dobson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1936
Dobson Communications Corporation is the ninth largest provider of wireless services in the United States, serving 1.6…
PT Astra International Tbk →
Active · founded 1957 · Indonesia
PT Astra International Tbk is one of Indonesia's largest diversified conglomerates.
PT Astra International Tbk →
Active · founded 1957 · Indonesia
PT Astra International Tbk is one of Indonesia's largest diversified conglomerates.
Telcordia Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
What Telcordia did not anticipate was the meltdown of the entire telecommunications industry at the start of the new…
Telcordia Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
What Telcordia did not anticipate was the meltdown of the entire telecommunications industry at the start of the new…
Talk America Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Talk America Holdings, Inc., sells local and long-distance telephone services in 25 states, primarily in Georgia,…
Talk America Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Talk America Holdings, Inc., sells local and long-distance telephone services in 25 states, primarily in Georgia,…
Cesky Telecom, a.s. →
Active · founded 1993 · Czech Republic
The company Cesky Telecom, a.s.
Cesky Telecom, a.s. →
Active · founded 1993 · Czech Republic
The company Cesky Telecom, a.s.
Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A. →
Active · founded 1994 · Portugal
Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A.
Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A. →
Active · founded 1994 · Portugal
Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A.
Telenor ASA →
Active · founded 1995 · Norway
Telenor ASA is Norway's leading telecommunications group.
Telenor ASA →
Active · founded 1995 · Norway
Telenor ASA is Norway's leading telecommunications group.
Eschelon Telecom, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Eschelon Telecom, Inc., is a rapidly growing provider of integrated voice, data, and Internet services.
Eschelon Telecom, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Eschelon Telecom, Inc., is a rapidly growing provider of integrated voice, data, and Internet services.
Broadwing Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Broadwing Corporation operates two divisions that serve different segments of the telecommunications industry.
Broadwing Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Broadwing Corporation operates two divisions that serve different segments of the telecommunications industry.
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1998 · Brazil
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1998 · Brazil
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A. →
Active · founded 2003 · Spain
Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A.
Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A. →
Active · founded 2003 · Spain
Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A.
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