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| 1988-1997: The digital revolution |
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1988
Switzerland's first digital telecommunications network goes into operation with the launch of «Swissnet 1» based on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) technology.
EU: liberalisation of the telecoms terminals market.
1989
PTT adopts new corporate strategy: post office and telecommunications divisions to focus on their core businesses.
1991
Introduction of the service number 156 - a fee-paying information service available via telephone.
1992
Telecommunications act liberalising value-added services (such as digital data communications) and terminals becomes law.
NATEL D (digital, cellular mobile telephone network) goes into operation.
1993
Telecom PTT buys one-third stake in Unisource; other two-thirds held by KPN of the Netherlands and Telia of Sweden.
1994
First ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection with Germany goes into operation.
1996
New telephone numbers for the whole country. Instead of 52 network groups, there are now only 18.
Mobile network boasts 500,000 subscribers (300,000 NATEL C; 200,000 NATEL D).
NATEL easy: first pre-paid card for NATEL D.
Introduction of Blue Window: Internet portal soon becomes the Swiss market leader.
ISDN boasts 250,000 subscribers.
1997
Parliament passes a new Telecommunications Act (FMG) and Telecommunications Enterprise Act (TUG), which together result in full liberalisation of the market and conversion of Telecom PTT into a special public limited company.
Mobile telephony boasts one million subscribers (200,000 NATEL C; 800,000 NATEL D).
Teleguide, an electronic phone directory, replaces the cumbersome phone books in all public phone booths (Publifone).
1 October 1997
Telecom PTT becomes Swisscom - the event is celebrated by the entire workforce in Olten.
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