Alcatel
Alcatel is a French telecommunications company with a long and rich history. The firm has been a major player in the telecommunications market for over 150 years and is known for its innovations in mobile device technology.
Alcatel was founded in Paris, France in 1878 by Pierre Azaria. Initially called Compagnie Générale dElectricité, it was the first company in France to install electric lighting in public places. By the early 20th century, the company had broadened its scope and renamed itself Compagnie Generale dElectricité et de Téléphones (CGET). This new name highlighted CGETs focus on telephone services and the delivery of electric power.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, CGETs international portfolio of telecommunications subsidiaries rapidly expanded. In the late 1930s, CGET merged with the radio equipment supplier, Radiotechnique. This merger enabled the company to enter the radio broadcasting industry and to strengthen its already extensive telecommunications activities.
In 1967, CGET merged with the electronics and industrial company, Compagnie Generale dEquipments Téléphoniques (CGFT). The new entity was known as Alcatel Alsthom (now Alcatel). The firms new name combined the names of two of CGETs major subsidiaries, Alcatel and STC (Standard Telephones and Cables). During the 1970s, Alcatel Alsthom increased it focus on mobile technology and developed the first generation of portable telephones. It continued to play an essential role in the development of mobile telephony during the 1980s and 1990s.
Since then, Alcatel has grown to become one of the worlds leading suppliers of telecommunication systems and services, including technologies such as IP network management, Ethernet networking and LTE access networks. In the 2000s, Alcatel diversified its product range, introducing communications solutions for internet service providers, governments and businesses. It also entered the consumer market, launching the first mobile phones under the Alcatel One Touch brand.
Today, Alcatel is a major global supplier of telecommunications infrastructure, systems and services. The firm operates in more than 170 countries, serving all sectors of the economy. Its product range includes next-generation fixed-line and mobile infrastructure, business and residential broadband services, IP network management solutions and enterprise communication solutions. All products draw on the company’s expertise in telecommunication networks and cutting-edge technologies like LTE.
Alcatel is committed to innovating to better meet the needs of its customers and to reduce the environmental impact of its products and services. It also works to promote social inclusion and maximize the environmental sustainability of its activities. The company is actively involved in many charity initiatives and has developed a range of products and services designed to enable access to communications technology for people in disadvantaged communities.
