BellSouth facts for kids
BellSouth Telecommunications was a big company that helped people in the southern United States connect with each other. It provided phone services, like landlines and later internet, to homes and businesses.
BellSouth was created in 1984. This happened when a much larger phone company, AT&T, was split into several smaller companies. BellSouth was one of these new companies, often called "Baby Bells."
BellSouth provided phone services in nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Before BellSouth, two other companies, South Central Bell and Southern Bell, served these same states as part of the older Bell System.
Later, in 2006, BellSouth became part of AT&T again. So, today, the services BellSouth used to offer are now provided by AT&T.
What was the Bell System breakup?
To understand BellSouth, it helps to know about the "Bell System breakup." For many years, AT&T was almost the only phone company in the United States. It was a huge company known as the Bell System.
However, the government decided that this company was too big. They thought it had too much control over phone services. To encourage more competition and choices for customers, the government decided to break up AT&T in 1984.
This breakup created several new, independent phone companies. BellSouth was one of them. Each new company served a different part of the country. This change meant that people had more options for their phone service, and new technologies could develop faster.
Where did BellSouth operate?
BellSouth focused on connecting people in the southeastern part of the United States. The nine states it served were:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
These states were once served by two older companies: Southern Bell and South Central Bell. When the Bell System broke up, these two companies merged to form BellSouth. This made BellSouth a major telecommunications provider in the region for many years.
Images for kids
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AT&T Midtown Center, Atlanta, AT&T Southeast headquarters.
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AT&T City Center, Birmingham, Alabama, South Central Bell's former Headquarters.
See also
In Spanish: BellSouth para niños
