T-Netix

About T-Netix

In 1986, in the wake of AT&T's breakup, Terry Johnson founded a company called Tele-Matic Corp. Initially focused on pay telephones, the company pivoted in 1991 to address a highly specific and controlled market: correctional facilities. It developed technology to prevent fraudulent three-way calls from inmates, carving out a specialized niche. Under the leadership of CEO Thomas Huzjak, the company rebranded as T-Netix in 1995 and expanded its technological focus by acquiring SpeakEZ, Inc. This acquisition brought in voice verification technology, which had clear applications for security within the corrections industry. The strategy was clear: dominate the inmate calling services market through technological superiority and strategic acquisitions. By 1999, T-Netix acquired its primary competitor, Gateway Technologies, Inc., solidifying its position as the largest inmate calling services provider in the United States. The story took a significant turn in 2004 when the private equity firm H.I.G. Capital acquired T-Netix. Later that year, H.I.G. also acquired another industry player, Evercom Systems, Inc., and merged the two giants. This merger created a new entity, Securus Technologies, which would continue to build upon the foundation T-Netix had established in the corrections telecommunications sector.