Movistar
Movistar is a major Spanish mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. It operates in Spain and in many Latin American countries. It is the largest carrier in Spain with 22 million customers (cellphone services only) and 41.58% of market share.2 Its principal competitor in Latin America is America Movil. It offers GSM 900/1800 MHz (2G), UMTS 850 & 1900 MHz (3G) and HSDPA (3.5G) services.
The Movistar name has been in use in Spain since the launch of GSM services in 1995. The name became effective worldwide on April 5, 2005 after Telefónica Móviles purchased the BellSouth mobile operations branch in South America.
After the purchase of O2 in 2005 by Telefónica S.A., the company announced that the O2 brand would continue to be used in the UK, Germany and the Republic of Ireland, as a separate branch with its own board and management structure. Eurotel in the Czech Republic was rebranded as Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, as opposed to Telefónica Móvistar.
From 2011, Telefónica S.A. are to sponsor a UCI ProTeam cycling team in cycling under the name of Movistar Team.
As of 2011, most consumer and business services from Telefónica – mobile telephony, landline service, broadband and television (satellite or IPTV, depending on the location) - in Spain and most of Latin America are marketed under the Movistar brand.
Countries where Telefónica operates under the 'Movistar' brand
- Argentina (formerly Telefónica Unifón and Movicom BellSouth)
- Chile (formerly Telefónica Móvil and BellSouth)
- Colombia (formerly BellSouth)
- Costa Rica (formerly Telefónica de Costa Rica, S.A.)
- Ecuador (formerly CelularPower, BellSouth)
- El Salvador (Formerly Telefónica Móviles or Telefonica MoviStar)
- Guatemala (formerly Telefónica MoviStar and BellSouth)
- Mexico (formerly Cedetel, Bajacel, Movitel, Norcel and Pegaso)
- Nicaragua (formerly BellSouth)
- Panama (formerly BellSouth)
- Peru (formerly Telefónica Móviles and BellSouth)
- Spain (formerly Telefónica MoviStar)
- Uruguay (formerly Movicom)
- Venezuela (formerly Telcel BellSouth)
Countries where Telefónica Móviles operates wireless networks under other brands
Mobile broadband
Movistar modems includes[1]:
Movistar advertisements
The 1983 song "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves was used by Telefónica to announce the unification of all its operation brands (Telefonica MoviStar, Bellsouth, Unifon, Telefonica Moviles, Telefonica Movil, Movicom) in Latin America and Spain under the Movistar brand after the takeover of BellSouth's Latin America division.1. Movistar has also used the New Radicals' hit "You Get What You Give", "Two Princes" by Spin Doctors and currently "Hey, Soul Sister by Train, and other versions of the song, in audiovisual advertisement.
See also
- Moviline, Telefónica Móviles's old analog network
References
External links