COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 517212

Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommu- nications

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

17companies1889–1999founding years17still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAvista Corporation
1889
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 Corporation
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedTelefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPPB Group Berhad
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCox Enterprises, Inc.
1968
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.
FoundedAT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedTelecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedBerjaya Group Bhd.
1990
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.
1994
FoundedTelecom Italia Mobile S.p.A.FoundedTelenor ASA
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedSwisscom AG
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedBrasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
1998
FoundedGolden Telecom, Inc.FoundedGrupo Clarín S.A.
1999
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

TDC A/S →
Active · Denmark
TDC A/S--formerly Tele Danmark, itself created from the former state-owned telephone monopoly--is Denmark's top…
Avista Corporation →
Active · founded 1889
Avista Corporation operates as a generator, transmitter, and distributor of energy, providing electricity and natural…
Dobson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1936
Dobson Communications Corporation is the ninth largest provider of wireless services in the United States, serving 1.6…
Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Telefonos de Mexico S.A.
PPB Group Berhad →
Active · founded 1948 · Malaysia
One of Malaysia's largest companies, and one of the largest conglomerates in the ASEAN market region, PPB Group Berhad…
Cox Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
AT&T Wireless, Inc.
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited →
Active · founded 1987 · New Zealand
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited is that country's dominant telecommunications company, providing fixed line…
Berjaya Group Bhd. →
Active · founded 1990 · Malaysia
Berjaya Group Bhd.
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.
Telecom Italia Mobile S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1995 · Italy
Telecom Italia Mobile S.p.A., or TIM, is not only Italy's leading mobile communications company--with more than 26…
Telenor ASA →
Active · founded 1995 · Norway
Telenor ASA is Norway's leading telecommunications group.
Swisscom AG →
Active · founded 1997 · Switzerland
Swisscom AG is the leading telecommunications company in Switzerland.
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A. →
Active · founded 1998 · Brazil
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
Golden Telecom, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999 · Russia
Golden Telecom, Inc.
Grupo Clarín S.A. →
Active · founded 1999 · Argentina
Grupo Clarín S.A., a privately owned Argentine holding company, is the leading media group in the Spanish-speaking…
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