COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 4899

Communications Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

18companies1889–1998founding years15still active3no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedFrance Telecom Group
1889
FoundedAlcatel Alsthom Compagnie Générale d'Electricité
1898
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCommonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedTractebel S.A.
1929
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedDirectorate General of Telecommunications
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedGray Communications Systems, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedBouygues S.A.
1952
FoundedZapata Corporation
1953
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedComsat Corporation
1963
FoundedMultimedia, Inc.
1968
FoundedComcast Corporation
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
FoundedKinko's Inc.
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedAT&T Istel Ltd.
1979
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedIDB Communications Group, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPrimedia Inc.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedCITIC Pacific Ltd.FoundedOrbital Sciences Corporation
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedMCI WorldCom, Inc.
1998
2000
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

France Telecom Group →
Defunct · founded 1889 · France
The fourth largest telecommunications corporation in the world, France Telecom Group is also one of the last remaining…
Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Générale d'Electricité →
Active · founded 1898 · France
With operations in more than 100 countries, Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Générale d'Electricité was the second-largest…
Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1907
Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
Tractebel S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · Belgium
Tractebel S.A.
Directorate General of Telecommunications →
Active · founded 1943 · Republic of China
Initially developed as a telegraph service for the military over 100 years ago, Taiwan's Directorate General of…
Gray Communications Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Established in 1946 by James H.
Bouygues S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
Bouygues S.A.
Zapata Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Slated to become one of the ten largest Internet companies in the world, Zapata Corporation is involved in Internet and…
Comsat Corporation →
Active · founded 1963
The first commercial satellite operator, Comsat Corporation has ownership in two global satellite systems, Intelsat and…
Multimedia, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
One of the most profitable media communications companies in the United States, Multimedia, Inc.
Comcast Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Comcast Corporation is a leading cable, telecommunications, and entertainment firm.
Kinko's Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Kinko's Inc.
AT&T Istel Ltd. →
Active · founded 1979 · United Kingdom
AT&T Istel Ltd.
IDB Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
The fourth largest U.S.-based international long-distance carrier and the largest U.S.-based international private line…
Primedia Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Primedia Inc.
CITIC Pacific Ltd. →
Active · founded 1990 · Hong Kong
In less than a decade, CITIC Pacific Ltd.
Orbital Sciences Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1990
Orbital Sciences Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is an unrivaled, leading-edge space technology company…
MCI WorldCom, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1998
MCI WorldCom, Inc.
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