GTE Southwest
Encyclopedia
GTE Southwest Incorporated is a Verizon operating company serving a former GTE region. GTE Southwest, at its peak, originally served Arkansas
, Oklahoma
, Texas
, and New Mexico
.
Its original name upon founding was State Telephone Company of Texas. It later changed its name to Southwestern Associated Telephone Company, and General Telephone Company of the Southwest.
In 1996, Contel of New Mexico and Contel of Texas were merged into GTE Southwest.
In 2000, Bell Atlantic purchased GTE
and renamed itself Verizon. Shortly thereafter, GTE Southwest's operations in several states were sold off. GTE's Arkansas
operations were sold to CenturyTel, becoming CenturyTel of Northwest Arkansas
. GTE's operations in Oklahoma
and New Mexico
were sold to Valor Telecom. GTE Southwest retained its legal name but began doing business as
Verizon Southwest.
GTE Southwest continues to serve former GTE and Contel regions in Texas
. It is the only former GTE
operating company that has not changed its official legal name under Verizon ownership.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Its original name upon founding was State Telephone Company of Texas. It later changed its name to Southwestern Associated Telephone Company, and General Telephone Company of the Southwest.
In 1996, Contel of New Mexico and Contel of Texas were merged into GTE Southwest.
In 2000, Bell Atlantic purchased GTE
GTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
and renamed itself Verizon. Shortly thereafter, GTE Southwest's operations in several states were sold off. GTE's Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
operations were sold to CenturyTel, becoming CenturyTel of Northwest Arkansas
CenturyTel of Northwest Arkansas
CenturyTel of Northwest Arkansas, LLC is a telephone operating of CenturyLink providing local telephone services to northwest Arkansas, including Siloam Springs. The company was founded in 1999 when CenturyTel purchased access lines in Arkansas from GTE....
. GTE's operations in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
were sold to Valor Telecom. GTE Southwest retained its legal name but began doing business as
Doing business as
The phrase "doing business as" is a legal term used in the United States, meaning that the trade name, or fictitious business name, under which the business or operation is conducted and presented to the world is not the legal name of the legal person who actually own it and are responsible for it...
Verizon Southwest.
GTE Southwest continues to serve former GTE and Contel regions in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is the only former GTE
GTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
operating company that has not changed its official legal name under Verizon ownership.