About Us » History
Excel Telecommunications belongs to a family of well-established communications providers, representing 50 years of industry experience.
Timeline
1950-1998
In 1950, Canadian Overseas Telecommunication Corporation (COTC) was created as a Canadian Crown corporation. The company proceeded to become an innovative leader in the telecommunications industry, developing the first transatlantic coaxial cable, TAT-1, in 1956 and the first communications satellite, Early Bird, in 1964. Renamed Teleglobe Canada in 1975, the company has become a recognized global communications leader. Within the past few decades, Teleglobe has responded successfully to the increasingly complex and rapidly changing demands for bandwidth-hungry applications, remaining well ahead of the curve in quality while breaking new ground through innovative approaches to data services.
1998
Teleglobe purchased Excel Telecommunications, Inc. to penetrate the United States residential telecommunications market.
1999
Teleglobe enhances and expands its business services division to serve the data, Internet and telecommunications needs of the US $50 billion North American corporate market, naming it Teleglobe Business Solutions.
2000
In November 2000, Teleglobe and Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE Inc.) merged to create one of the largest and most advanced communications companies in the world. As a result of this merger, Teleglobe Business Solutions (the U.S. business division of Teleglobe) decided to implement a name change to better reflect the market that it serves and its focus on providing superior customer service. eMeritus Communications, Inc. (formerly Teleglobe Business Solutions) is now part of BCE Ventures, and exclusively serves business customers throughout the United States. The "e" represents eMeritus' experience, expertise and the e-services that it offers, while "Meritus" is the Latin word for having great worth or value.
2001
In February 2001, Teleglobe Business Solutions officially changed its name to eMeritus Communications, Inc. and launched several initiatives to deliver superior, personalized customer service to its customer base throughout North America.
In August of 2001, VarTec Telecom, Inc., a private Dallas-based telecommunications provider of local and long distance service, signed an agreement with BCE to acquire Excel Telecommunications and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
2002
On April 6, 2002, VarTec Telecom officially acquired both Excel Telecommunications and eMeritus Communications.
2004
In October 2004, eMeritus Communications officially changed its name to VarTec Solutions and launched several new products including local and DSL offerings.
2006
Comtel Telcom Assets LP, owners of Excel, completed the purchase of substantially all the assets of the assets of VarTec Telecom and its sub-brands, VarTec Solutions, OneChoice and Excel in June 2006.