Telesp - Telecomunicações de São Paulo S.A. (in English: Telesp - São Paulo Telecommunications) was the telephony operator company of the Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. (Telebrás) system in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, successor to the CTB, later incorporating the Companhia de Telecomunicações do Estado de São Paulo (COTESP) and other smaller companies. It remained in operation from May 1973 until the privatization process in July 1998, when the Spanish company Telefónica acquired it, forming Telefônica Brasil, which in 2012 adopted the Vivo brand for its fixed-line operations.
Of the current 645 municipalities of the state of São Paulo, Telesp operated in all but 43, which were served by the companies CTBC Borda do Campo, CTBC Brasil Central and CETERP.
History Background From the 1940s and 1950s onward, Brazilian cities, especially the major urban centers, had high pent-up demand for telephones because a set of technical and economic factors led the country's private telephone operators to stop investing in the expansion and modernization of telephone systems, causing serious friction with the granting authorities. Institutional changes in the sector effectively began in 1962 with the Brazilian Telecommunications Code and resulted in the creation of Embratel (1965), the intervention and nationalization of Companhia Telefônica Brasileira (1966), the creation of the Ministry of Communications (1967), and the creation of the Telebras system (1972), the latter promoting the unification of operators at the state level and eliminating the incompatibility that existed between the telephone systems of the time. Predecessors
List of the main telephone operators (public and private) that were incorporated and formed Telesp:
CTB
The company that gave rise to Telesp is through its São Paulo Operations Directorate (DOSP). It served São Paulo, Campinas, Santos and about 180 more cities throughout the state. It incorporated the following companies: S.T.M. Paulínia, S.T.M. Tabatinga, S.T.M. São José dos Campos, S.M.T.A. Araraquara, S.M.T.A. Taubaté, S.M.T.A. Guarujá, Soc. Telefônica da Estância (Serra Negra), S.T.M. Aguaí, S.T.M. Porto Ferreira, S.M.T.A. Rio Claro and Telefônica Lemense.
COTESP
Created in 1964 by the government of the state of São Paulo through the purchase of shares of the former Companhia Telefônica Tupi, it served about 170 cities. It incorporated the telephone service of the Estrada de Ferro Campos do Jordão, the Central Telefônica de Cachoeira Paulista, the Telefônica Salto de Pirapora, and various municipal telephone systems (including S.M.T.A. Aparecida and the Telefônica Municipal de Caraguatatuba). Its concessions were transferred in 1973 and 1975 through an agreement.
S.T.M. / S.M.T.A.
Many cities had their own Municipal Telephone Systems (S.T.M.), almost all of which had obsolete manual exchanges. Some larger cities were able to obtain automatic exchanges; for this purpose, Municipal Automatic Telephone Services (S.M.T.A.) were created.
Main private operators: CompanyTel.(thousands)Locations servedNotesCia Telefônica Rio Preto15.0São José do Rio Preto and 28 more citiesincorporated the S.T.M. Adamantina managed by CTBCia Paulista de Telecomunicações (CIPATEL)13.8Piracicabaincorporated Telefônica Águas de São Pedro and the S.T.M. Rio das Pedras managed by CTBEmpr. Telefônica Paulista12.5Presidente Prudente and 21 more citiesincorporated Empresa Telefônica Mirante managed by CTBTelefônica Jundiaí12.5Jundiaí Itupeva Várzea Paulistamanaged by CTBCompanhia Rede Telefônica Sorocabana11.8Sorocaba Votorantimmanaged by CTBCia Telefônica Alta Paulista7.7Tupã and 17 more citiesCia Telefônica Suburbana Paulista (COTESPA)7.4Osascoorganized by Bradesco, replaced the S.T.M. OsascoTelefônica de Limeira6.3Limeira Cordeirópolis IracemápolisTelefônica Central Paulista5.9São CarlosCia Telefônica do Litoral Paulista5.7São Vicente Boqueirão Cidade Ocian Solemar Vila CaiçaraCia Telefônica de Guarulhos3.8Guarulhosmanaged by CTBTelefônica Nacional3.1Catanduva Catiguá Itajobi Santa Adélia UrupêsEmpr. Telefônica Ararense2.6ArarasEmpr. Telefônica de Americana2.3AmericanaEmpresa Melhoramentos de Andradina (EMA)1.9Andradina Castilho Ilha Solteira Pereira Barretomanaged by COTESPCia Telefônica de Valinhos1.8ValinhosCia Telefônica de Ourinhos1.7OurinhosTelefônica Pirassununga1.6PirassunungaTelefônica Pinhal1.5Espírito Santo do PinhalTelefônica Barbarense1.3Santa Bárbara d'OesteCia Telefônica de Atibaia1.2Atibaia Bom Jesus dos PerdõesCia Telefônica de Pindamonhangaba1.2PindamonhangabaEmpr. Telefônica Irmãos Camargo1.2São José do Rio PardoCia Telefônica de Itanhaém1.1Itanhaém Iguape Jacupiranga Juquiá MongaguáTelefônica Jacareí1.1Jacareímanaged by CTBCia Telefônica Média Mogiana1.0Casa Branca Itobi Santa Cruz das Palmeiras Tambaúincorporated Empresa Telefônica Palmeirense and the S.T.M. Itobi managed by CTB
Creation of Telesp Formed as a subsidiary of Telebras on 12 April 1973, it began operational activities on 31 May 1973 with the incorporation of the assets of Companhia Telefônica Brasileira in the state of São Paulo.
Telesp was accredited as a holding company in the state by Ordinance No. 369 of 31 May 1973, in accordance with the guidelines and the policy of unifying the telephone system adopted by the Ministry of Communications, since the telephone system was granted at the time to several operators, both private and public.
Expansion Integration of state telephony
After its creation in April 1973, the processes of incorporation, expropriation, acquisition of holdings, or transfer of concession of the other operators existing in the state were gradual, from June 1973 until the beginning of 1980, with Teleoesp remaining last; its concession was revoked in July 1987. In cases of company incorporation, Telesp would first acquire a controlling interest or become a shareholder and only then incorporate it. The only exception was Companhia Telefônica da Borda do Campo, whose controlling interest Telesp acquired but kept under separate administration without incorporation.
1973 Incorporation: Empresa Telefônica Paulista, Cia. Telefônica Rio Preto, Cia. Telefônica Média Mogiana and S.T.M. Porto Ferreira, Cia. Telefônica de Vinhedo and Telefônica Jacareí, Cia. Telefônica de Atibaia Acquisition of holdings: Empresa Telefônica Monte Mor, Telefônica Águas de São Pedro, S.T.M. Charqueada and S.T.M. Embu-Guaçu, S.M.T.A. São João da Boa Vista, S.T.M. João Ramalho and S.T.M. Ribeirão do Sul, Empresa Telefônica Sumaré, S.T.M. Vargem Grande do Sul, S.T.M. Monte Alto, Empresa Telefônica Dourado and S.T.M. Anhumas Transfer of concession: S.T.M. Elias Fausto, S.T.M. Ariranha, S.T.M. Marabá Paulista, S.T.M. Pirangi, S.T.M. Santo Expedito, S.T.M. Morungaba, S.T.M. Cabreúva, S.T.M. Santo Antônio do Jardim, S.T.M. Mairiporã, S.T.M. Ipeúna, COTESP (urban services in 89 locations), S.T.M. Paraíso, S.T.M. Luís Antônio, S.T.M. Dumont, S.T.M. Alfredo Marcondes and S.T.M. Nazaré Paulista
1974 Incorporation: Telefônica Fartura, Telefônica Jundiaí and Cia. Telefônica de Guarulhos, Empresa Telefônica de Cosmópolis, Empresa Telefônica Cammarosano and Empresa Telefônica Santa Cruz da Conceição Acquisition of holdings: S.T.M. Artur Nogueira and S.T.M. Rio das Pedras, Telefônica Botelhos, S.T.M. Conchal, S.T.M. Divinolândia and S.T.M. São Sebastião da Grama, S.M.T.A. Lins, S.T.M. Araçoiaba da Serra, S.M.T.A. Guaratinguetá, S.T.M. Itaí and S.T.M. Taquarituba Transfer of concession: S.T.M. Bofete, S.T.M. Borborema, S.T.M. Iperó and S.T.M. Taiaçu
1975 Incorporation: Telefônica Pinhal, Telefônica Nacional, Telefônica Descalvado and Cia. Telefônica Alta Paulista, Empresa Telefônica Tibiriçá Feio Acquisition of holdings: S.T.M. Bálsamo, S.T.M. Nova Europa and S.T.M. Palestina Transfer of concession: COTESP (urban services in 86 locations), S.T.M. Jarinu and S.T.M. Paranapanema Indirect extinction: Empresa Telefônica de Jaguariúna
1976 Incorporation: Telefônica Barbarense and COTESP, Cia. Telefônica do Litoral Paulista and Empresa Telefônica de Americana, Telefônica Pirassununga, Telefônica de Limeira, Cia. Telefônica Santa Rita, Cia. Telefônica Suburbana Paulista and Empresa Melhoramentos de Andradina, Cia. Telefônica de Ourinhos, Cia. Telefônica de Itanhaém, Cia. Telefônica de Pindamonhangaba, Cia. Telefônica de Valinhos and Empresa Telefônica Ararense, Telefônica Central Paulista, Empresa Telefônica Irmãos Camargo and Cia. Rede Telefônica Sorocabana Acquisition of holdings: Telefônica Anhanguera, Cia. Telefônica de Caieiras, Telefônica de Nova Odessa, Telefônica Patrocínio Paulista, Empresa Telefônica Paulista (Bariri) and Empresa Telefônica Tapiratiba Indirect extinction: Empresa Telefônica Coração de Jesus
1977 Incorporation: CIPATEL Acquisition of holdings: Cia. Telefônica Registro and Telefônica Sul Paulista, in addition to municipal telephone services in 89 locations Indirect extinction: Empresa Telefônica Mogiana
1978 Acquisition of holdings: CETELVI and Concessionária Telefônica Figueira e Guerra
1979 Acquisition of holdings: Empresas Telefônicas Reunidas de Igarapava e Pedregulho
1980 Expropriation: Telefônica União
1987 Transfer of concession: Telecomunicações do Oeste Paulista
Exchanges with other operators The cities of Paraty and Sapucaí-Mirim (former COTESP concession) were transferred to Telerj and Telemig respectively. Telesp also operated in Fronteira, a city that lacked its own telephone exchange, with its telephones connected to the exchange in Icém. In 1997, it began to be served by Companhia Telefônica do Brasil Central.
Operators not incorporated Some operators were not acquired by Telesp or by its incorporated companies, such as Cia. Telefônica Alta Mogiana (Orlândia), Cia. Telefônica de Franca, Empresa Telefônica de Buritizal, Empresa Telefônica de Cajuru, Empresa Telefônica de Ituverava, S.T.M. Guaíra, S.T.M. Jardinópolis and Telefônica Intermunicipal (Batatais), all incorporated by Companhia Telefônica do Brasil Central, and Telefônica Mogi das Cruzes, incorporated directly by Companhia Telefônica da Borda do Campo. The only operator that remained active in the state without being incorporated by any other was Centrais Telefônicas de Ribeirão Preto.
Operational structure Because the company operated throughout the state, it was managed through a decentralized hierarchical structure, with its administrative headquarters in the capital. For marketing services and providing customer support, Telesp was divided into six regional management areas, two in Greater São Paulo and four in the interior.
Administrative headquarters Its first administrative headquarters was the Sete de Abril Complex, located at Rua Sete de Abril, 309 – República, which had been the headquarters of the CTB's Diretoria de Operação São Paulo (DOSP). Its principal building is the Edifício Sete de Abril, an art deco property designed by Ramos de Azevedo in partnership with Severo & Villares at the renowned Escritório Técnico Ramos de Azevedo, and whose facade was listed in 1992. Its corporate headquarters, meanwhile, was on the 4th floor of the Edifício Itália, at Avenida São Luís, 50 – República. In 1975, the company's new headquarters building was inaugurated at Rua Martiniano de Carvalho, 851 – Paraíso, with 22 floors. Its construction had begun in 1972 under CTB, after the demolition of the former Avenida telephone exchange, installed on the site in 1920 and deactivated in 1969. After the move, the buildings on Rua Sete de Abril and Rua Basílio da Gama, which together form the Sete de Abril Complex, continued to be used as a customer service center for subscribers. It is currently the second in São Paulo to receive a permit to carry out a retrofit under the Requalifica Centro program law. After being closed for more than a decade, it will be reopened under the name "Basílio 177", as an apartment condominium with an open gallery of shops and restaurants. Presidents