COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 51331

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (pt)

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

34companies1853–1997founding years32still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.
1853
FoundedMannesmann AG
1890
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedThe Williams Companies, Inc.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedTelefónica S.A.
1924
FoundedAllegheny Energy, Inc.
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCablevision Systems CorporationFoundedNippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
1985
FoundedSprint Corporation
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedCable & Wireless HKT
1988
FoundedCorbis Corporation
1989
FoundedIDT Corporation
1990
FoundedMcLeodUSA Incorporated
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedEarthLink, Inc.FoundedThe Motley Fool, Inc.
1994
FoundedGetty Images, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedProdigy Communications Corporation
1996
FoundedTiscali SpA
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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.
The Williams Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1908
The Williams Companies, Inc., is the largest interstate natural gas supplier in the United States.
The Williams Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1908
The Williams Companies, Inc., is the largest interstate natural gas supplier in the United States.
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.
Allegheny Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Allegheny Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
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.
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.
Cable & Wireless HKT →
Active · founded 1988 · Hong Kong
Cable & Wireless HKT (HKT), formerly Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd., provides a wide range of communications…
Cable & Wireless HKT →
Active · founded 1988 · Hong Kong
Cable & Wireless HKT (HKT), formerly Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd., provides a wide range of communications…
Corbis Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Corbis Corporation provides digital images to professional and nonprofessional customers through a handful of Web…
Corbis Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Corbis Corporation provides digital images to professional and nonprofessional customers through a handful of Web…
IDT Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
IDT Corporation is a leading provider of long-distance telephone access, Internet access, and global Internet telephony…
IDT Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
IDT Corporation is a leading provider of long-distance telephone access, Internet access, and global Internet telephony…
McLeodUSA Incorporated →
Active · founded 1991
McLeodUSA Incorporated is a major provider of integrated telecommunications services to businesses and residential…
McLeodUSA Incorporated →
Active · founded 1991
McLeodUSA Incorporated is a major provider of integrated telecommunications services to businesses and residential…
EarthLink, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
EarthLink, Inc.
EarthLink, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
EarthLink, Inc.
The Motley Fool, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
The Motley Fool, Inc.
The Motley Fool, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
The Motley Fool, Inc.
Getty Images, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Getty Images, Inc.
Getty Images, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Getty Images, Inc.
Prodigy Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Prodigy Communications Corporation provides its subscribers with Internet access and related value-added services, such…
Prodigy Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Prodigy Communications Corporation provides its subscribers with Internet access and related value-added services, such…
Tiscali SpA →
Active · founded 1997 · Italy
Italy's Tiscali SpA is leading the race for dominance of the European Internet access market.
Tiscali SpA →
Active · founded 1997 · Italy
Italy's Tiscali SpA is leading the race for dominance of the European Internet access market.
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