AT&T Inc. is the world’s largest telecommunications company by revenue and the 3rd largest operator of mobile communications in the US. The company’s F2022 revenue was enough to earn it the 13th position on Forbe’s Fortune 500 list where it has resided for many decades.
The company that we know today is the result of many mergers, breakups, and acquisitions that began with Alexander Graham Bell in 1877. Mr. Bell founded the Bell Telephone Company in 1877 shortly after patenting the telephone. Within a few years, the Bell Telephone Company had become the American Bell Telephone Company, to distinguish it from other operations, and in 1885 the AT&T or American Telegraph and Telecommunications subsidiary was launched.
The AT&T subsidiary was so successful that it outgrew and took over its parent. Between 1899 and 1913 the company built a massive network of telephone lines under government authorization. The monopoly earned it the nickname “Ma Bell” and led to antitrust proceedings and the establishment of today’s telecommunications legal system. The network was the primary mode of communication in America until 1982 when the company was forced to break up. The agreement allowed AT&T to keep its name and the long-distance service but split the local companies into 7 “Baby Bells” Oddly enough, AT&T will later merge with Southern Bell in 2005, then known as SBC Communications, to become the company it is today.
Now, AT&T provides telecommunications, media, and technical services worldwide. The company operates in two primary segments with several sub-segments. The two primary segments are AT&T Communications and AT&T Latin American. AT&T Communications has three sub-segments which include Mobility, Business Wireline, and Consumer Wireline. The Mobility segment, which is the largest segment by far, offers a range of devices and service plans through a network of distributors and vendors while the Business and Consumer Wireline segments cater to the needs of businesses, families, organizations, and institutions. The Latin America segment provides wireless services in Mexico under the AT&T and Unefon brand names.
AT&T is a leader in the switch to 5G. Its 5G service comes in three tiers that seek to unlock the full potential of the technology. The base AT&T 5G uses the low band for wider coverage and is able to reach 281 million people in 22,000 cities. The high-end 5G+ using millimeter wavelength is available in more than 45 major metropolitan areas, stadiums, and high-traffic areas. The 5G+ using C-band is a blend of the two offering the highest speeds with the widest coverage.