View source for Telmex

{{short description|Mexican telecommunications company}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Teléfonos de México, S.A.B. de C.V.
| logo = Telmex Logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| image = Telmex Cuicuilco.jpg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1947|January|1}}
| location = [[Mexico City]], Mexico
| key_people = [[Carlos Slim]] ([[chairman]])<br />Hector Slim Seade ([[CEO]])
| industry = [[Telecommunications]]
| num_employees = 52,346 (2010)<ref name=10K>[http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/07/20/telmex-reports-revenue-net-profit-drops-in-2q-2011/ Telmex reports revenue, net profit drops in 2Q 2011]. Telegeography.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-14.</ref>
| products = [[Telephone]], [[internet]], [[data]], hosted services, [[television]]
| revenue = 
| net_income = 
| parent = [[América Móvil]]
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.telmex.com}}
}}

'''Teléfonos de México, S.A.B. de C.V.''', known as '''Telmex''' is a Mexican [[telecommunication]]s company headquartered in [[Mexico City]] that provides [[telecommunications]] products and services in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutgadget.com/|title=All the things about technology|publisher=All About Gadget|date=2014-01-21|access-date=2014-01-25|archive-date=2014-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226124659/http://www.allaboutgadget.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, Telmex was the dominant fixed-line phone carrier in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/|title=Information for the World's Business Leaders|work=Forbes.com|access-date=2014-01-25}}</ref>{{clarify|reason=what is the actual reference here? forbes.com is too broad to be useful.|date=January 2014}} In addition to traditional [[Landline|fixed-line telephone service]], Telmex offers{{Clarify timeframe|date=January 2023}} [[Internet access]] through their [[:es:Infinitum|Infinitum]] brand of [[Wi-Fi|Wi-Fi networks]], data, hosted services and IT services. Telmex owns 90 percent of the telephone lines in Mexico City<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-tech-worlds-most-influential-tech-tycoons/20101213.htm|title=World's 5 most influential tech tycoons|work=Rediff.com|access-date=2010-12-13}}</ref>{{Clarify timeframe|date=January 2023}} and 80 percent of the lines in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=376770|title=América Móvil se "empequeñece" para dejar de ser "preponderante"|publisher=Proceso|language=es|date=9 July 2014|access-date=2014-07-12|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125907/http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=376770|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Clarify timeframe|date=January 2023}} Telmex is a wholly owned [[subsidiary]] of [[América Móvil]].

== History ==
[[File:Telmex payphone.jpg|thumb|A Telmex public pay phone]]
Telmex was founded in Mexico the {{Start date and age|1947|January|1}}, when a group of Mexican investors bought Swedish [[Ericsson]]'s Mexican branch.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} In 1950, the same investors bought the Mexican branch of the [[ITT Corporation]], thus becoming the only telephone provider in the country. In 1972, the [[Federal government of Mexico|Mexican government]] bought the company.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 1990, Telmex was bought by a group of investors formed principally by [[Carlos Slim|Carlos Slim Helú]], [[Orange S.A.|France Télécom]], and [[AT&T|Southwestern Bell Corporation]], whose tender was the largest. However, controversially, the payment itself took place over the course of the next several years, using revenues from the phone service.{{clarify|reason=what is the actual reference here? forbes.com is too broad to be useful.|date=January 2014}}

After [[privatization]], Telmex began investing in new modern infrastructure, creating a partial [[fiber optic]] network throughout the nation, thus offering service to 30% of the Mexican territory.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 1991, the [[Federal government of Mexico|Mexican government]] sold its remaining stock in Telmex.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Cellphone mobile unit==
[[Image:Telmexstore.jpg|thumb|left|A Telmex retail store]]
[[File:Hotel Mariott in Lima.jpg|thumb|Telmex advertising - [[JW Marriott Hotel Lima]]]]

In the 1990s, Telmex formed a subsidiary Radio Móvil Dipsa to provide mobile communications under the brand [[Telcel]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2000, Telmex spun off their mobile unit, creating [[América Móvil]], which controls Radio Móvil Dipsa.  It started with 80% of the mobile market.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2010, America Móvil (an independent company from its former parent company, Telmex) bought 60% of Telmex, paying over 23 billion dollars. In 2011, America Móvil purchased the remaining 40% of Telmex. In August 2012, America Móvil started the process to de-list Telmex from the Mexican Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-11-14/america-movil-pays-4-6-billion-to-boost-control-of-telmex-1- | title=America Movil Pays $4.6 Billion to Boost Control of Telmex | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=14 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americamovil.com/amx/en/cm/about/events.html?p=28 |title=Relevant Events - América Móvil |access-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925132517/http://www.americamovil.com/amx/en/cm/about/events.html?p=28 |archive-date=2015-09-25 }}</ref>

==Internet==
[[Image:CentroTelmexCuauhtemocDF.JPG|thumb|View of the Centro Cultural Telmex, located on Avenida Chapultepec near [[Metro Chapultepec|Metro station Cuauhtemoc]] in Mexico City]]
In the mid-1990s, Telmex began providing [[Internet access]] as an [[Internet service provider]] (ISP) with the brand Uninet. A year later, the brand was changed to Telmex Internet Directo Personal (Telmex Direct Personal Internet). In 1996, Telmex bought [[Prodigy (ISP)|Prodigy Communications]] and took the brand to Mexico, renaming the service Prodigy Internet de Telmex.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} Thanks to their national coverage, Telmex rapidly became the leading national [[Internet service provider|ISP]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} {{As of|2005}}, Telmex holds more than 80% of the market as an [[Internet service provider|ISP]], and is also the leader in broadband access with its brand Prodigy Infinitum (ADSL).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioformula.com.mx/noticias/finanzas/logra-telmex-precios-mas-bajos-en.html |title= Grupo Fórmula : Error|website=www.radioformula.com.mx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113134020/http://www.radioformula.com.mx/noticias/finanzas/logra-telmex-precios-mas-bajos-en.html |archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

In 2001, Telmex sold the U.S. branch of [[Prodigy Communications]] to [[SBC Communications|SBC]], which was dubbed SBC Prodigy.  However, Telmex continues to own and operate Prodigy in Mexico. In 2004, Telmex claimed that the number of users of Prodigy Internet grew by 190%.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Telmex dropped the Prodigy name from its advertising in 2009, replacing it with the "Infinitum" brand of Telmex internet services since that year. The name Prodigy is still used in the Mexican local site of [[MSN]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Television==
{{Expand section|date=January 2023}}
Telmex owns TV UNO and Claro Sports.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Long-distance competition==
In the mid-1990s, [[AT&T Corporation]] and [[WorldCom]] ([[MCI Inc.|MCI]]), among others, began operating in Mexico, representing for the first time serious competition to Telmex.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Expansion==
[[File:Torre_de_teléfonos_de_Telmex.jpeg|thumb|Telmex Tower, Mexico City.]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Telmexnet.jpg|left|thumb|Telmex International Network]] -->

After spinning off América Móvil, Telmex started an expansion plan, which started with the purchase of Guatemala's [[Telgua]]. Later, Telmex bought former state-owned phone companies in Central America, and began operations in the US with Telmex USA.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2004, Telmex went into a shopping spree for undervalued operators in South America, including the purchase of AT&T's Latin American operations, giving it presence in [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Peru]], [[Paraguay]], [[Chile]], [[Argentina]], [[Brazil]], and [[Uruguay]], and increased reach in the [[United States]]. In the same year, Telmex bought from MCI Brazil's largest and most important{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} long-distance operator, [[Embratel]], acquired [[Chile|Chile's]] Chilesat, took control of Argentina's Techtel (operating in Argentina and Uruguay), of which it already owned 60%, by purchasing the remaining 40% from the Techint group, and purchased Argentina's Metrored.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} In the US, Telmex bought 13.4% of bankrupt MCI.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

At the same time, sister company America Movil pursued a similar strategy by acquiring cellular operators CTI Movil in Argentina and Uruguay, Claro in Brazil and Peru, Porta in Ecuador and Comcel in Colombia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2005, Telmex sold its holdings in MCI to Verizon.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

As of January 2006, Telmex continued buying assets in Latin America and in the USA.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

[[File:TELEFONO TELMEX.jpg|thumb|left|Telmex phone with display to identify calls and send messages.]]
In March 2006, there were rumors that Telmex was buying Verizon operations in the [[Caribbean]]. The reports said that the operation can include the wireless operation on each market. The total amount of this sale was estimated at nearly US$300 million.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

In November 2006, an [[United States diplomatic cables leak|American embassy cable]] listed Telmex as among "Mexico's monopolists", with a 95% share of landlines. Its sister company [[Telcel]] was listed with a market share of 80% of cellular service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/11/06MEXICO6413.html|title=cable 06MEXICO6413, WHO ARE MEXICO'S MONOPOLISTS?|website=wikileaks.org|date=9 November 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Edward Snowden, en entrevista con The Washington Post |url=http://wikileaks.jornada.com.mx/notas/sectores-clave-con-alto-grado-de-concentracion-del-mercado |title=Enlistan los sectores con privilegios — Wikileaks en La Jornada |language=es |publisher=Wikileaks.jornada.com.mx |access-date=2014-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402102403/http://wikileaks.jornada.com.mx/notas/sectores-clave-con-alto-grado-de-concentracion-del-mercado/ |archive-date=2014-04-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Telmex payphone, Puerto Vallarta (2014) - 02.JPG|thumb|Telmex public telephone, which operates with smart cards prepaid.]]
In December 2006, Telmex announced agreement to acquire TV Cable and Cable Pacifico in Colombia. TV Cable offers cable television, Internet and Voice over IP services and has been in operation for 20 years. {{As of|2013}}, the company serves 164,000 homes in [[Bogotá]] and [[Cali]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Cable Pacifico serves nine states and its main operation is in [[Medellín]]. {{As of|2013}}, Cable Pacifico has approximately 100,000 subscribers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

In January 2007, America Movil bought the Verizon operations in Puerto Rico, and days later Telmex and America Movil announced that their equally owned joint venture had agreed with Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") to terminate the joint venture's agreement to acquire Verizon's indirect equity interests in Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (CANTV); subsequently, all of Verizon's holdings in CANTV were acquired in May 2007 by the Venezuelan government, reaching 86.2% of its total shares.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

In January 2007, Telmex launched Prodigy Media, the first step to offer triple play services to the Mexican market. Days later, Telmex started the first Wi-Max network in Chile, offering local, long-distance and Internet services to 98% of the Chilean population.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}{{dubious|This article is an ad|date=February 2011}}

In March 2007, Telmex bought [[Ecutel]],{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} a small telecommunications company in Ecuador that offers services to the corporate market.

In April 2007, Telmex announced agreement to acquire CABLECENTRO and SATELCARIBE in Colombia.
CABLECENTRO offers cable TV and Internet access services and has been in operation for 7 years.{{When|date=November 2013}} Currently, the company operates in more than 50 cities in Colombia including Bogota, Cucuta, Bucaramanga, Ibague and Neiva, among others.
SATELCARIBE offers cable TV and Internet access services and has been in operation for 7 years.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Currently, the company operates in more than 15 cities in Colombia.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

In December 2007, Telmex transferred its [[Latin America|Latin American]] and yellow pages directory businesses to a new, separate entity, Telmex Internacional.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

==América Móvil takeover==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2023}}
In January 2010, [[América Móvil]], the largest mobile phone company in Latin America, made an offer to buy Telmex and Telmex International in order to better compete against [[Spain|Spain's]] [[Telefonica]] and Malaysia's [[Telekom Malaysia]]. The acquisition was approved by the CFC (Comisión Federal de Competencia) Antitrust Office in Mexico on February 11, 2010.

América Móvil was once the mobile arm of Telmex, but in 2001, América Móvil was split off and grew larger than the former parent company.{{Citation needed| date=October 2024}}

==See also==
* [[List of telephone operating companies]]
* [[List of telecommunications regulatory bodies]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscatinline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.telmex.com/web/hogar}}
* [http://www.telmexusa.com USA operations]
* [http://www.unotv.com TV Uno]

{{America Movil}}
{{Mexican mobile phone companies}}
{{Major telecommunications companies}}

[[Category:Mexican companies established in 1947]]
[[Category:América Móvil]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mexico City]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of Mexico]]
[[Category:Mexican brands]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Mexico]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1947]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Privatized companies in Mexico]]