Protel Payphones List
Protel Inc.
Founded: 1983.
Specialty: Payphones built around patented “Smart Line Powered Technology” — meaning the phone electronics were powered directly from the telephone line with no external power supply.
Global Reach: In the 1980s and later, Protel sold over one million payphones and deployed them in 72+ countries worldwide.
Protel payphones were a staple of many customer-owned payphone operations, especially in North America, where deregulation and the emergence of COCOTs in the 1980s–90s enabled companies other than Bell/GTE to enter the payphone business.
Use Around the World
Protel payphones — including units based on the 7800 platform — were seen in:
North America (USA & Canada): The largest concentration was in the U.S. and Canada, where independent COCOT operators used Protel electronics inside traditional housings or custom installs.
Over 70 Other Countries: Protel reported installs globally across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia during its peak sales era.
These phones often operated on standard analog phone lines (POTS/COCOT/B-1) and were installed in public areas, businesses, and private lots.