BellSouth

BellSouth was a prominent American telecommunications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company played a significant role in providing essential telecom services across the southern U.S. and was initially one of the original Bell Regional Operating Companies following the breakup of the American Telephone & Telegraphic Company. In addition to its core services, BellSouth operated an advertising and publishing unit responsible for printing and distributing phone books and directories.

In 2006, BellSouth was acquired by AT&T in a transaction valued at an impressive $86 billion, further expanding and consolidating AT&T's network and reach within the telecommunications industry.

This acquisition marked a pivotal moment in the company's history, aligning with AT&T's strategic vision for growth and market dominance. The integration of BellSouth into AT&T's expansive network further solidified the latter's position as a telecom giant, with heightened capabilities to serve the southern United States.

While BellSouth now operates as a subsidiary of AT&T, its legacy as a key player in the southern U.S. telecom landscape endures, contributing to the formidable presence of AT&T in the industry.