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In 1984, business tycoon Carlos Slim opened Telcel in Mexico City, which originally operated under the name Radio Móvil Dipsa and specialized in mobile communications. Six years later, the company began offering wireless phone service throughout Mexico, quickly gaining the lion’s share of the country’s cell phone market.

In 1996, in an effort to attract frugal users, Telcel launched Amigo prepaid cards. By the late 1990s, the company had expanded its technology offerings, first introducing a personal communications network (PCS) in Mexico City and then expanding it to the rest of the country.

An important milestone came in 2001 when Carlos Slim spun off América Móvil from Telmex, making Telcel part of this newly formed entity. In 2006, Telcel’s cellular infrastructure covered more than 63% of Mexico and 90% of the country’s population.

As of 2020, there were 77.2 million wireless users in Mexico, representing more than 61% of the market. In short, Telcel, founded by Carlos Slim, has become the leading company in Mexico’s wireless telecommunications sector. Over the decades, the company has consistently expanded its services and geographic footprint and is now a key subsidiary of América Móvil.