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Swisscom, derived from Switzerland’s long-standing public telecommunications services, emerged in 1998 from the privatization and subsequent demerger of the former Swiss company PTT (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone). PTT has controlled the country’s telegraph and telephone services since the late 1800s.

The Swiss telegraph network, established as a state-owned enterprise in 1851, paved the way for the creation of a state-owned telephone network in 1877. However, it was not until 1997 that the government decided to privatize PTT, splitting it into two separate entities, Swisscom for telecommunications and Swiss Post for postal services.

The following year, Swisscom was officially established as a state-owned company and debuted on the stock market, with the Swiss government retaining a controlling stake (51%). In the early 2000s, Swisscom broadened its horizons by launching various telecommunications services, including mobile, broadband, and television within Switzerland.

In 2006, Swisscom acquired Italian broadband service provider Fastweb, an important step in the company’s overseas development. Three years later, the company embarked on a major initiative to expand its fiber-optic networks throughout Switzerland.

Today, Swisscom holds a leading position in the Swiss telecommunications market with a share of more than 60% in the key sectors of mobile, broadband, and TV. The company is also a pioneer in new technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Fastweb continues to be one of the leading broadband providers in Italy.

Swisscom has transformed itself from a component of a state monopoly to the largest telecommunications operator in Switzerland and has also made a name for itself abroad. Despite the public listing and the expansion of its business scope, the company is still mainly owned by the Swiss government.