Editing Swisscom (section)

==History==

===Pioneers (1852–1911)===
[[Switzerland]]'s entry into the [[telecommunication]]s era came in 1851, with the passage of legislation giving the [[Swiss government]] control over the development of a [[telegraph]] network throughout the country. The government's initial plans called for the creation of three primary [[Telegraphy|telegraph]] lines, as well as a number of secondary networks. In order to lay the infrastructural groundwork for the system, the government established the Atelier Fédéral de Construction des Télégraphes (Federal Workshop for the Construction of Telegraphs).

In July 1852, the first leg of the country's [[Telegraphy|telegraph]] system — between [[St. Gallen]] and [[Zürich]] — was operational. By the end of that year, most of the country's main cities had been connected to the telegraph system. In 1855, the network was extended with the first underwater cable, connecting [[Winkel, Switzerland|Winkel]]-[[Stansstad]] and [[Bauen]]-[[Flüelen]]. Night service was also launched that year, starting in [[Basel]], [[St. Gallen]] and [[Bellinzona]].

Telegraph traffic continued to rise in the following decade, but was nevertheless overtaken by the [[telephone]].

Switzerland's entry into the telephone age came in 1877, when the first experimental [[telephone line]]s appeared, starting with a line linking the post office building with the [[Federal Palace of Switzerland|Federal Palace]] and then with a link, using the existing [[Telegraphy|telegraph]] line, between [[Bern]] and [[Thun]]. The following year, the government passed legislation establishing a [[monopoly]] on the country's telephone network. By 1880, Switzerland's first private network had been created in Zürich. This was a central system with the capacity for 200 lines.

Basel, Bern and [[Geneva]] all launched their own local networks between 1881 and 1882. One year later, the first intercity telephone line was established, linking Zürich's private exchange with [[Winterthur]]'s public system. [[Telephone number]]s were introduced in 1890, replacing the initial system whereby callers had been able to ask for their party by name.

Switzerland began testing its first public [[Telephone booth|phone booths]] in 1904. Initially restricted to local calls, the public telephones allowed national calling for the first time in 1907.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/swisscom-ag-history/|title=History of Swisscom AG – FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com|language=en|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref>

===1912–1965===
The first automatic [[telephone exchange]]s were installed by private networks in 1912. By 1917, a semi-automatic exchange had been installed in [[Hottingen (Zürich)|Zürich-Hottingen]].

In 1920, the [[Swiss government]] created the Swiss [[Postal Telegraph and Telephone (Switzerland)|PTT]], combining the country's [[Mail|postal services]] and telegraph and telephone systems into a single, government-controlled entity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/schweizerische-post-telefon-und-telegrafen-betriebe-history/|title=History of SCHWEIZERISCHE POST-, TELEFON- UND TELEGRAFEN-BETRIEBE – FundingUniverse|website=fundinguniverse.com|language=en|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref>

PTT began [[telex]] services in 1934, and by 1936 had linked up the cities of Zürich, Basel and Bern, which were then linked via Zürich to the international market.

===Space-age communications (1966–1981)===
[[Image:Telstar 1 replica.jpg|thumb|The original Telstar, the first telecommunications satellite to be launched into space.]]
[[Telstar]] – the first [[Communications satellite|telecommunications satellite]] – was launched into space in 1962.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/telstar.html|title=Telstar at 50|last=Administrator|first=NASA|date=2015-07-08|work=NASA|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> In 1974, the [[Leuk]] satellite earth station went into operation in the canton of [[Valais]].

=== Moving towards mobile in the 1980s ===
Automation enabled [[Postal Telegraph and Telephone (Switzerland)|PTT]] to introduce pulse-metering for local calls in 1963. In 1966, PTT introduced automated international dialing services, initially from [[Montreux]] and achieved full coverage in 1982.

In 1970, PTT led an inter-organisational work group of Swiss telecommunications players, in an effort to create an integrated digital [[telecommunications network]] (IFS).

In 1976, the company launched [[facsimile transmission]] services from its customer service centers. Two years later, PTT established its first [[Mobile Telephone Network|mobile telephone network]], called [[NATEL]].

In 1980, PTT enabled facsimile transmission for the home and office market.

The [[telecommunication]]s business became known as Swiss Telecom PTT.

===Public company in the 21st Century===
The company initially formed a Unisource partnership with the Netherlands' [[KPN]] and Sweden's [[Telia Company|Telia]]. Although the Unisource partnership attempted to enter a number of markets around the world, including Malaysia and India, it deintegrated after several years of losses.

Telecom PTT's set up the service provider Blue Window (later [[Bluewin]]), which became the country's leading [[Internet service provider]] (ISP).

In 1997, [[Swiss government]] passed new legislation fully deregulating the Swiss [[telecommunication]]s market. As part of that process, Telecom PTT was transformed into a special public limited company, its name was changed to Swisscom on 1 October 1997, its shares were listed on the [[SIX Swiss Exchange|Swiss Stock Exchange]], and it conducted a public offering of its shares in 1998.

In 1999, the company acquired Germany's publicly listed [[Debitel]], then the third-largest mobile services provider on the German market.

The company formed six primary business units, and in 2001, it sold a 25% stake in Swisscom Mobile to England's [[Vodafone]]. [[Vodafone]] was a major investor in so-called [[3G]] (third-generation) mobile telephone technology.

In 2000, Swisscom won a [[UMTS]] (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems) license.

In the early 2000s, Swisscom also started rolling out [[DSL]] (digital subscriber line) broadband technology with 200,000 subscribers by the beginning of 2003.

In 2002, Swisscom Eurospot was founded, initially specialising in providing High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA) services to hotel guests 4- and 5-star hotels around Europe.<ref name="SHS profile">{{cite web|title=Serving hoteliers since 2002|url=https://www.swisscom.ch/en/business/hospitality/about/company-profile/history.html|website=swisscom – Business – about us|publisher=swisscom|access-date=4 April 2015}}</ref> Later becoming Swisscom Hospitality Services, it is based in Geneva.<ref name="in hotel">{{cite news |title=The TV Loses Its Top Spot in Hotel-Room Entertainment |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20130601-1.2.59.1?qt=lodgenet&q=lodgenet |work=Today (Singaporean newspaper) |agency=The New York Times |date=June 1, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2003, its newly formed subsidiary, Swisscom Eurospot, merged with the Netherlands' Aervik.<ref name=":0" />

===Modern times===
The former state-owned PTT was privatized in several stages from 1988 onward and became a public limited company with special legal status in October 1998.<ref name="AR2014">{{cite web |url= http://report.swisscom.ch/en/annual-report/management-commentary/financial-review/key-financial-figures|title=Annual Report 2014 Key Financial Figures |access-date=24 March 2015 |publisher=Swisscom}}</ref> The [[Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]] currently holds 51.0% of the share capital.<ref name="AR2014"/> The Telecommunications Enterprise Act limits outside participation to 49.9% of the share capital.<ref name=TUG>{{cite web|title=Bundesgesetz über die Organisation der Telekommunikationsunternehmung des Bundes|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.admin.ch%2Fopc%2Fde%2Fclassified-compilation%2F19970161%2Findex.html|website=www.admin.ch|publisher=Swiss Confederation|access-date=4 April 2015}}</ref>

In its 5 April 2006 message, the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] proposed Swisscom to be completely privatized. On 10 May 2006, the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] declined the proposal. On 20 May 2006, the Advisory Committee of the Council of States advised the [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]] to endorse the proposal – but only so that it could be referred back to the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] for revision.

In 2007, the 25% stake in Swisscom Mobile AG, which had been sold to Vodafone six years earlier, was repurchased and the mobile telephony, fixed network and solutions businesses were merged organisationally into the new company Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gordon Smith, Haig Simonian |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d0182252-8f31-11db-9ba3-0000779e2340 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d0182252-8f31-11db-9ba3-0000779e2340 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Vodafone sells Swisscom Mobile stake |publisher=Financial Times |date=2006-12-19|access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref> In the first half of 2007, Swisscom acquired a majority holding in the Italian telecommunications provider [[Fastweb (telecommunications company)|Fastweb]], owner of the second largest broadband network in Italy. During the offer period, Swisscom acquired 80.7% of Fastweb's share capital, making it 82.4% of Fastweb shares by the cut-off date of 22 May. The total transaction amounted to 6.9 billion Swiss Francs.<ref>{{cite web |author=swisscom |url=https://www.swisscom.ch/en/about/medien/press-releases/2010/11/20101112_MM_Fastweb_Aktie.html |title=Takeover offer for Fastweb shares was successful |publisher=Swisscom |access-date=2012-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219171451/https://www.swisscom.ch/en/about/medien/press-releases/2010/11/20101112_MM_Fastweb_Aktie.html |archive-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>

Swisscom announced its new visual identity on 14 December 2007.<ref name="logo">{{cite web|url=https://www.swisscom.ch/content/dam/swisscom/en/about/company/history/documents/markengeschichte.pdf.res/markengeschichte.pdf|title=History of Brand|date=14 December 2007|website=swiss.com|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> The previous sub-brands of Swisscom Fixnet, Swisscom Mobile and Swisscom Solutions ceased to exist on 1 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/swisscom-unveils-new-corporate-logo--582898|title=Swisscom unveils new corporate logo|date=14 December 2007|website=telecompaper|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> As part of the restructuring, Swisscom employed agency Moving Brands to redesign its logo and transformed it into a moving picture element, an innovation for [[Switzerland]] and the industry.<ref name="Swisscom gets a new look">{{cite web|title=Swisscom gets a new look|url=https://www.swisscom.ch/en/about/medien/press-releases/2007/12/20071213_01_Swisscom_in_neuem_Kleid.html|publisher=swisscom.ch|access-date=25 January 2017|archive-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121203628/https://www.swisscom.ch/en/about/medien/press-releases/2007/12/20071213_01_Swisscom_in_neuem_Kleid.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 23 July 2013, the CEO of Swisscom, [[Carsten Schloter]] was found dead from an apparent suicide and Urs Schaeppi was appointed interim CEO.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/carsten-schloter-dead_n_3639023.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Caroline | last=Fairchild | title=CEO Found Dead in Apparent Suicide | date=23 July 2013}}</ref> Schaeppi's appointment was made permanent in November 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://telecoms.com/195771/swisscom-appoints-new-ceo/|title=Swisscom appoints new CEO|date=7 November 2013|work=telecoms.com|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> As of June 2018, Swisscom ranks on [[Forbes]] "The World's Largest Public Companies" list, the [[Forbes Global 2000|Global 2000]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/global2000/list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423003358/http://www.forbes.com/global2000/list|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 April 2011|title=The World's Largest Public Companies|date=2018|work=Forbes}}</ref> at number 520.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/#5462f0985ac0 |title=The List:2021 Global 2000|date=2021-05-13|work=Forbes}}</ref>

In June 2015, Swisscom Hospitality Services became part of a new company, Hoist Group, following its acquisition by the Sweden-based HoistLocatel.<ref>{{cite web|title=HoistLocatel and Swisscom Hospitality Services are now Hoist Group|url=http://www.hoistgroup.com/news-int/2015/06/03/hoistlocatel-and-swisscom-hospitality-services-are-now-hoist-group/|website=hoistgroup – News & Press – Press Releases|publisher=hoistgroup|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref>

In June 2018, Danish software firm Nordija partnered with Swisscom to develop TVaaS 2.0.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2018/06/06/nordija-partners-with-swisscom-on-tvaas-2-0/|title=Nordija partners with Swisscom on TVaaS 2.0|date=2018-06-06|work=Digital TV Europe|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.csimagazine.com/csi/Swisscom-Broadcast-opens-up-new-TVaaS-platform.php%20.php|title=Swisscom Broadcast opens up new TVaaS platform|website=www.csimagazine.com|access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/06/06/nordija-partners-with-swisscom-broadcast/|title=Nordija partners with Swisscom Broadcast|date=2018-06-06|work=Broadband TV News|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2019, Swisscom paid CHF 240 million to TX Group for the acquisition of the outstanding 31% stake in Swisscom Directories AG.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://reports.swisscom.ch/download/2019/de/swisscom_geschaeftsbericht_gesamt_2019_de.pdf|title=Swisscom Geschäftsbericht 2019|publisher=Swisscom|access-date=2021-07-16|language=de}}</ref>

On 17 April 2019, Swisscom began to deploy its [[5G]] network.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telecomstechnews.com/news/2019/jul/18/swisscom-signs-first-5g-roaming-agreements-sk-telecom-and-elisa/|title=Swisscom signs first 5G roaming agreements with SK Telecom and Elisa|website=Telecom Tech News|date=18 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> At present, the company delivers 5G service in 110 cities and villages including [[Zürich]], [[Geneva]] and [[Bern]] as well as rural and touristic regions.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/sk-telecom-launches-the-worlds-first-5g-roaming-service-with-swisscom/d/d-id/752800|title=SK Telecom Launches the World's First 5G Roaming Service With Swisscom|website=Light Reading|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

In June 2019, Swisscom, [[SK Telecom]] and [[Elisa (company)|Elisa]] together launched the world's first 5G roaming service. From 17 July 2019, Swisscom customers with a 5G mobile phone were given access to the new 5G data network in [[Finland]] and by the end of July in [[South Korea]].<ref name=":2" /> At the same time, Swisscom customers database exceeded 6 million mobile subscriptions.<ref name=":1" />

On 1 June 2022, Urs Schaeppi stepped down from his position as CEO of Swisscom and was succeeded by Christoph Aeschlimann.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/29tgv135tpvr6af1g40ld/urs-schaeppi-steps-down-from-swisscom | title=Urs Schaeppi steps down from Swisscom | date=3 February 2022 }}</ref>

On March 15, 2024, Swisscom signed a binding purchase proposal to acquire 100% of Vodafone Italia for €8 billion, with the goal of merging it with Fastweb. The transaction is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025. As part of the agreement, [[Vodafone]] will continue to provide certain services to Fastweb, as well as grant the use of its brand for a maximum period of five years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biondi |first=Andrea |date=2024-03-15 |title=Swisscom acquisisce Vodafone Italia, via all’unione con Fastweb |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/swisscom-acquisisce-vodafone-via-alil-unione-fastweb-AFZr9p3C |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Il Sole 24 ORE |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Il marchio Vodafone sparirà in Italia tra cinque anni (al massimo): l’accordo con Fastweb per 8 miliardi |url=https://www.corriere.it/economia/finanza/24_marzo_15/fastweb-compra-vodafone-italia-per-8-miliardi-il-marchio-restera-per-5-anni-al-massimo-86b1dd74-096a-4768-81a6-093d2ddd8xlk.shtml |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Vodafone-Fastweb, c’è il sì alle nozze: Swisscom compra le attività italiane del colosso britannico per 8 miliardi |url=https://www.repubblica.it/economia/finanza/2024/03/15/news/vodafone-fastweb_ce_il_si_alle_nozze_swisscom_compra_le_attivita_italiane_del_colosso_britannico_per_8_miliardi-422313761/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Finanza |first=MF Milano |date=2024-03-15 |title=Tlc, parte il risiko. Swisscom compra Vodafone Italia per 8 miliardi e prepara la fusione con Fastweb. Tutti i dettagli {{!}} MilanoFinanza News |url=https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/tlc-parte-il-risiko-swisscom-compra-vodafone-italia-per-8-miliardi-e-prepara-la-fusione-con-fastweb-tutti-202403150741557027 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MF Milano Finanza |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Swisscom acquisisce Vodafone Italia per creare, attraverso la combinazione con Fastweb, un operatore convergente leader nel Paese |url=https://www.fastweb.it/corporate/media/comunicati-stampa/swisscom-acquisisce-vodafone-italia-per-creare-attraverso-la-combinazione-con-fastweb-un-operatore-convergente-leader-nel-paese/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Fastweb.it |language=it}}</ref>

On April 3, 2024, Fastweb also entered the electricity market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=Fastweb entra nel mercato dell’energia elettrica con una bolletta «fissa»: obiettivo 100 mila clienti |url=https://www.corriere.it/economia/energie/24_aprile_03/fastweb-entra-nel-mercato-dell-energia-elettrica-con-una-bolletta-fissa-obiettivo-100-mila-clienti-b6944c2f-de83-4010-87a0-a55727167xlk.shtml |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it-IT}}</ref>

A July 2024 opinion poll revealed that a majority of Swiss voters oppose the complete privatization of Swisscom whereby the Swiss government would sell its majority stake. 67% of respondents expressed opposition to the sale of the federal government's stake in the telecommunications company, while only 26% were in favor (the rest were undecided). This opposition was consistent across supporters of all major political parties and linguistic regions of the country. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Redaktion |date=2024-07-04 |title=Telecommunications: Clear majority against complete privatization of Swisscom |url=https://www.werbewoche.ch/en/kommunikation/2024-07-04/telekommunikation-klare-mehrheit-gegen-vollstaendige-privatisierung-der-swisscom/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Werbewoche m&k |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2024, the [[Competition law|Antitrust]] Authority published a notice of investigation<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-17 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Antitrust pubblica il provvedimento di avvio istruttoria |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287434-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-antitrust-pubblica-il-provvedimento-di-avvio-istruttoria/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref> and launched an inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-17 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia, indagine Antitrust: i dubbi dei competitor e l'analisi AGCM |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287447-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-indagine-antitrust-i-dubbi-dei-competitor-e-lanalisi-agcm/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref> Swisscom announced that the [[European Commission]] had approved the acquisition of Vodafone Italia under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-24 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Swisscom ottiene il via libera dalla Commissione UE |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287876-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-swisscom-ottiene-il-via-libera-dalla-commissione-ue/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref> The transaction was also approved by [[Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni|AGCOM]] and [[Italian Competition Authority|AGCM]] in November and December 2024, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Mattia |date=2024-11-13 |title=Swisscom, acquisizione di Vodafone Italia: AGCOM autorizza la transazione |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/290625-swisscom-acquisizione-di-vodafone-italia-agcom-autorizza-la-transazione/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stampa |first=Sala |date=2024-12-20 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Swisscom ottiene ok dell'Antitrust italiana e del MIMIT |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/293122-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-swisscom-ottiene-ok-dellantitrust-italiana-e-del-mimit/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref>

On December 31, 2024, Swisscom, through Fastweb, completed the acquisition of Vodafone Italia, giving rise to [[Fastweb + Vodafone]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stampa |first=Sala |date=2025-01-02 |title=Fastweb + Vodafone è nata. Swisscom completa l'acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/293342-fastweb-vodafone-e-nata-swisscom-completa-lacquisizione-di-vodafone-italia/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it {{!}} News {{!}} Telefonia {{!}} Offerte |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TG24 |first=Sky |date=2025-01-02 |title=Swisscom completa l'acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://tg24.sky.it/economia/2025/01/02/swisscom-vodafone-italia |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=tg24.sky.it |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Biondi |first=Andrea |date=2025-01-02 |title=Al via Fastweb + Vodafone: Swisscom completa l’acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/al-via-fastweb-vodafone-swisscom-completa-l-acquisizione-vodafone-italia-AGsErb5B |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Il Sole 24 ORE |language=it}}</ref>