Ameritech was formed by the joining of Illinois Bell, Indiana Bell, Ohio Bell, Michigan Bell and Wisconsin Telephone [which became Wisconsin Bell] and the creation of entirely new entities related to its core communications business.
In October 1983, Ameritech became the first U.S. company to offer commercial cellular service. Its wired communications network reaches 20.5 million customer lines.
Ameritech is building a cable TV network and has formed Americast - a venture with the Walt Disney Company and telecommunications partners - to deliver video programming and interactive services for consumers.
It has become one of the largest North American security monitoring companies, serving one million customers in the U.S. and Canada. Its security monitoring operations have a presence in 92 of the U.S.' top largest metropolitan areas.
It has completed three large international privatizations: Telecom New Zealand, MATAV, the Hungarian communications company, and Belgacom of Belgium. In October 1997, it reached agreement to become a strategic partner in Tele Danmark through an investment of $3.2 billion for a 42% stake.
[Editors' Note: It has merged with SBC Communications inc.]
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