Movistar () is a Spanish major telecommunications provider owned by Telefónica, operating in Spain and Hispanic American countries. It is the largest provider of landline, broadband, mobile services, and pay television (Movistar Plus+) in Spain. Movistar is the second-largest wireless carrier in Mexico, with 25.8 million subscribers as of January 2020.

History

The Movistar brand has been in use in Spain since the launch of GSM services in 1995. The name became effective worldwide on April 5, 2005, after Telefónica purchased the BellSouth mobile operations branch in South America. After the purchase of O<sub>2</sub> in 2005 by Telefónica, the company announced that the «O<sub>2</sub>» brand would continue to be used in the United Kingdom and Germany, as a separate branch with its own board and management structure. Since 2011, Telefónica has sponsored a UCI ProTeam squad in cycling under the name of .

Movistar brand by country

thumb|Map of countries where the Movistar brand operates as of 2025

thumb|Movistar stand at the [[Mobile World Congress.]]

  • Argentina (formerly Telefónica Unifón and Movicom BellSouth)
  • Chile (formerly Telefónica Móvil and BellSouth)
  • Colombia (formerly Telefónica Telecom, Telecom, BellSouth, Cocelco, CeluMovil)
  • Ecuador (formerly CelularPower, BellSouth)
  • El Salvador (formerly Telefónica Móviles or Telefónica MoviStar)
  • Mexico (formerly Cedetel, Bajacel, Movitel, Norcel, and Pegaso)
  • Peru (formerly Telefónica Móviles and BellSouth)
  • Spain (formerly Telefónica MoviStar)
  • Uruguay (formerly Telefónica Unifón and Movicom BellSouth)
  • Venezuela (formerly Telcel and Telcel BellSouth)

Former operations

  • Costa Rica (acquired by Liberty Latin America, now operating as LIBERTY)
  • Guatemala (acquired by América Móvil, now operating as Claro)
  • Nicaragua (acquired by Millicom, now operating as Tigo)
  • Panama (acquired by Millicom, now operating as Tigo)
  • Puerto Rico (acquired by Open Mobile, now operating as T-Mobile US)

Other brands by country

  • Brazil (formerly Telesp and Telefônica, now under the Vivo brand)
  • Germany (under the O<sub>2</sub> brand)
  • United Kingdom (under the O<sub>2</sub> brand)

Former operations

  • Czech Republic (under the O<sub>2</sub> brand, acquired by PPF and continues operating the O<sub>2</sub> brand under license agreement with Telefónica)
  • Ireland (under the O<sub>2</sub> brand, acquired by CK Hutchison Holdings and now operating as Three due to their merger)
  • Slovakia (under the O<sub>2</sub> brand, acquired by PPF and continues operating the O<sub>2</sub> brand under license agreement with Telefónica)

Advertisements

thumb|[[Volvo Open 70|VO70 Class yacht Movistar racing in Leg 1 of the 2005 Volvo Ocean Race in Vigo, Spain]]

The 1983 song "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves was used by Telefónica to announce the unification of all its operation brands (Telefónica MoviStar, Bellsouth, Unifon, Telefónica Moviles, Telefónica Movil, and Movicom) in Latin America and Spain under the Movistar brand after the takeover of BellSouth's Latin America division. Movistar has also used the New Radicals' hit "You Get What You Give" and "Two Princes" by Spin Doctors. Currently "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train is in advertising and other versions of the song are also used in audiovisual advertisements.

See also

  • List of mobile network operators
  • List of telecommunications regulatory bodies

References

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