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TCS Company History

TCS: History at a Glance

Over TCS’ 25-year history, we’ve dedicated resources to solving critical communications challenges through innovative thinking within a client-focused business model. Along the way, we’ve garnered numerous awards and consistently win contracts with Tier 1 wireless operators and government agencies such as a the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security.

Launch an interactive timeline celebrating 25 years of TCS »

 
  1. 1987

    1. TCS is founded

      TCS is founded in Annapolis, Maryland on July 30th

  2. 1989

    1. 8(a) program entered

      Named for Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, this program was created to help small and disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace. It also helps these companies gain access to federal and private procurement markets.

  3. 1990

    1. First delivery of secure data traffic on SCAMPI (Scalable Monitoring Platform for the Internet) network

  4. 1996

  5. 1997

  6. 1998

    1. 8(a) program completed

  7. 1999

    1. Largest private Asian VSAT network deployed for Citigroup

    2. Lucent and TCS announced intelligent network-based, mobile-originated Short Message Service (SMS)

  8. 2000

    1. Initial Public Offering (IPO)

      TCS (NASDAQ: TSYS) begins public offering on August 8, 2000.

  9. 2001

    1. First patent issued

      Patent #6208870 for "Short message service notification forwarded between multiple short message service centers" is filed on June 1, 1999 and issued on March 27, 2001. See our patent portfolio »

    2. Xypoint Corporation acquired

    3. Launch of Message Distribution Center (MDC)

  10. 2002

    1. Location agreement signed with Hutchison 3G

  11. 2003

    1. TL-9000 certification secured for Network Operations Center

  12. 2004

    1. Multi-year support contract with NCR-DOIM, EOM.

      TCS wins multi-year support contract with National Capital Region Director of Information Management, Enterprise Operations & Maintenance (NCR-DOIM, EOM)

    2. Kivera, Inc. acquired

    3. First Location-Based Services (LBS) in Latin America is launched on TCS platform

  13. 2005

    1. Provides communications infrastructure for Joint Task Force Katrina

    2. Deployable VSAT module introduced

      Humanitarian support provided via TCS deployable communications after Hurricane Katrina hits Gulf Coast.

    3. TCS pioneers and deploys nationwide roll-out of VoIP E9-1-1 solution

    4. Sprint selects TCS for Location-Based Services (LBS)

  14. 2006

    1. TCS named as awardee in $5 billion World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract

  15. 2007

    1. 5-year GSA contract for Defense Telecommunication Systems – Washington (DTS-W)

    2. Awardee in $750 million General Services Administration Satellite Services II (GSA SATCOM-II)

      TCS is named awardee in contract to provide satellite communications services for Federal agencies.

    3. Successfully deployed the first NENA i3 NG9-1-1 telephony system

    4. 25 million registered subscribers on TCS Messaging Portal

  16. 2008

    1. TCS recognized as a Top Teleport Operator of 2008 by WTA

      Earns ranking among the best in the world from the World Teleport Association. See the list »

    2. U.S. Army contract for $246 million of deployable satellite solutions

      TCS is the sole awardee, implementing our SNAP suite.

  17. 2009

    1. Location Logic acquired

    2. Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) contract with Metropolitan Emergency Services Board of Minnesota

    3. Solvern Innovations acquired

    4. Sidereal Solutions Inc. acquired

  18. 2010

    1. Verizon Wireless introduces NAVBuilder® Inside

      Developed by TCS in collaboration with Verizon, our NAVBuilder Inside helps developers incorporate location, maps and navigation into apps. Learn more »

    2. Trident Space & Defense acquired

    3. 100th Patent Issued

      A patent for "Cellular augmented radar/laser detector" (#7764219) is filed on October 21, 2008 and issue on July 27, 2010

  19. 2011

    1. ISO 27001 Certification secured

    2. TCS hosts Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, state and local leaders at New Technology Center ribbon-cutting event

    3. Announcement of exclusive agreement with Cisco to commercialize IT communication services on the world’s first space router

  20. 2012

    1. 191st Patent Issued

      "Encryption of voice and data in a single data stream in a deployable, secure communication system" (Patent 8,209,750) is issued on June 26, 2012 (originally filed April 20, 2010).

      This is the latest patent (as of July 31st, 2012) issued to TCS.

    2. TCS selected by Verizon to provide Text to 9-1-1 National Gateway solution

    3. TCS and Telefónica enter partnership to provide navigation services in Latin America


Contact TCS

1 800.557.5869

Outside the US:

  • Europe +34 67.759.5420
  • Africa & Middle East +27 83.304.4411
  • Carib. & Latin Am. +1 703.727.1995
Contact Information

Connections that Matter®

Connections that Matter - a video from TCS

Learn about TCS' offerings and markets, narrated by Dick Young, Executive VP & COO

See more videos from TCS »