COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 51334

Satellite Telecommunications

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

15companies1908–1999founding years14still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedOlivetti S.p.A.FoundedThe Williams Companies, Inc.
1908
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedLoral Space & Communications Ltd.
1948
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
FoundedAEI Music Network Inc.
1971
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Titan Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedPanAmSat CorporationFoundedSpacehab, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedWilliams Communications Group, Inc.
1985
FoundedBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plcFoundedCable & Wireless HKT
1988
FoundedDeutsche Telekom AG
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedSirius Satellite Radio, Inc.
1990
FoundedMIH Limited
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedXM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc.
1992
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.
FoundedGrupo Clarín S.A.
1999
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

Olivetti S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1908 · Italy
Olivetti S.p.A.
The Williams Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1908
The Williams Companies, Inc., is the largest interstate natural gas supplier in the United States.
Loral Space & Communications Ltd. →
Active · founded 1948
Loral Space & Communications Ltd., or Loral SpaceCom, is a leading satellite communications company that both assembles…
AEI Music Network Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
AEI Music Network Inc.
The Titan Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Historically, The Titan Corporation was a defense department contractor involved in areas such as wireless…
PanAmSat Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1984
PanAmSat Corporation is a leading provider of satellite operations, serving markets in all parts of the globe.
Spacehab, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Spacehab, Inc.
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
With nearly 17 million viewers, digital satellite television operator British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, better known…
Cable & Wireless HKT →
Active · founded 1988 · Hong Kong
Cable & Wireless HKT (HKT), formerly Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd., provides a wide range of communications…
Deutsche Telekom AG →
Active · founded 1989 · Germany
Deutsche Telekom AG is the third largest telecommunications company in the world and number one in Europe.
Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.
MIH Limited →
Active · founded 1991 · The Netherlands
MIH Limited (MIHL) operates pay-television services internationally in three regions: Africa, the Mediterranean, and…
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, 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…
Build It Today

Starting a satellite telecommunications company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories with today's tools and capital.