Puerto Rico Telephone Company
Encyclopedia
Claro is the largest Puerto Rican telecommunications services company. It is headquartered in Guaynabo
, Puerto Rico
, and has operated for almost a century offering voice, data, long distance, broadband
, directory publishing and wireless services for the island residents and businesses. It was founded by the brothers Behn, Sosthenes
and Hernan
. Originally, Puerto Rico Telephone Company eventually spawned ITT Corporation
, which was founded by Sosthenes Behn. The company was a public corporation of the government of Puerto Rico
for many years until the majority stakes were acquired by GTE
in the mid-1990s. It was a subsidiary of Verizon Communications
until it was fully acquired by América Móvil
in 2007.
announced it had agreed to sell its stakes in Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc. (TELPRI) and their sole ownership of the main Dominican
telephone company Verizon Dominicana
, now Claro República Dominicana
, to América Móvil
of Mexico
.
On December 31, 2006, Verizon and América Móvil completed Verizon Dominicana ownership transfer into Mexican hands. After another three months and various litigations upon the Federal Communications Commission
, which had advise from the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Board, on March 30, 2007 TELPRI assets were completely acquired by América Móvil. The purchase was closed after an agreement to purchase from Popular, Inc.
, the government of Puerto Rico
and the telephone company employee stock ownership program, the remaining stocks of TELPRI at the same price as Verizon.
To present day, América Móvil
is the 100% owner of the company and has rebranded the wireless arm of the company -formerly Verizon Wireless- under their international Claro brand.
As of February 2011 America Móvil has rebranded its wireline (fixed line), broadband DSL, television and dial-up services as Claro. The only services that, for now, remain branded as Claro - Puerto Rico Telephone are business, government or corporate.
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and has operated for almost a century offering voice, data, long distance, broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
, directory publishing and wireless services for the island residents and businesses. It was founded by the brothers Behn, Sosthenes
Sosthenes Behn
Sosthenes Behn was an American businessman widely known for founding ITT. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.Sosthenes Behn was born in the island of St. Thomas, then part of the Danish West Indies...
and Hernan
Hernan Behn
Hernan Behn co-founded the Puerto Rico Telephone Company which eventually spawned ITT. Behn, along with his brother Sosthenes built the Two Brothers Bridge —Puente Dos Hermanos in Spanish— in San Juan. The bridge links the districts of Condado and Old San Juan.-References:# Morales...
. Originally, Puerto Rico Telephone Company eventually spawned ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
, which was founded by Sosthenes Behn. The company was a public corporation of the government of Puerto Rico
Public corporations of the Government of Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, Public corporations are separate legal entities owned, either entirely or in a large majority, by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These corporations are created to serve a public service, such as electricity, water, public financing, education, transportation, or...
for many years until the majority stakes were acquired by GTE
GTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
in the mid-1990s. It was a subsidiary of Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
until it was fully acquired by América Móvil
América Móvil
América Móvil is a Mexican telecommunication company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the fourth largest mobile network operator in terms of equity subscribers, one of the largest corporations in Latin America, and the world. America Movil is a Fortune 500 company...
in 2007.
History
On April 3, 2006, Verizon CommunicationsVerizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
announced it had agreed to sell its stakes in Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc. (TELPRI) and their sole ownership of the main Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
telephone company Verizon Dominicana
CODETEL
Claro is the largest telecommunications company in the Dominican Republic and provides local, long-distance, and wireless voice services, as well as Internet and IPTV services, to approximately four million customers.-Background:Previously known as CODETEL , the name change was announced February...
, now Claro República Dominicana
CODETEL
Claro is the largest telecommunications company in the Dominican Republic and provides local, long-distance, and wireless voice services, as well as Internet and IPTV services, to approximately four million customers.-Background:Previously known as CODETEL , the name change was announced February...
, to América Móvil
América Móvil
América Móvil is a Mexican telecommunication company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the fourth largest mobile network operator in terms of equity subscribers, one of the largest corporations in Latin America, and the world. America Movil is a Fortune 500 company...
of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
On December 31, 2006, Verizon and América Móvil completed Verizon Dominicana ownership transfer into Mexican hands. After another three months and various litigations upon the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, which had advise from the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Board, on March 30, 2007 TELPRI assets were completely acquired by América Móvil. The purchase was closed after an agreement to purchase from Popular, Inc.
Popular, Inc.
Popular, Inc., is a financial services conglomerate that has been operating in Puerto Rico for almost 115 years and in the United States for over 52 years. In recent years, it has expanded into other areas of the Caribbean and Central America. It is better known as Banco Popular, but it is also...
, the government of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the telephone company employee stock ownership program, the remaining stocks of TELPRI at the same price as Verizon.
To present day, América Móvil
América Móvil
América Móvil is a Mexican telecommunication company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the fourth largest mobile network operator in terms of equity subscribers, one of the largest corporations in Latin America, and the world. America Movil is a Fortune 500 company...
is the 100% owner of the company and has rebranded the wireless arm of the company -formerly Verizon Wireless- under their international Claro brand.
As of February 2011 America Móvil has rebranded its wireline (fixed line), broadband DSL, television and dial-up services as Claro. The only services that, for now, remain branded as Claro - Puerto Rico Telephone are business, government or corporate.