Science

Trans Atlantic Telephone Cable #OnThisDay

On 25th of September 1956 the first Trans Atlantic telephone cable (TAT 1) came into operation linking up Newfoundland, Canada to Oban, Scotland.

A marvel of communications engineering, the cable was able to carry 35 telephone calls at one time.

Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Between 1955 and 1956 two cables had been laid for calls going in each direction.

The total cost of the project was £120million split between  the General Post Office of the UK, the American Telephone and Telegraph company, and the Canadian Overseas Telecommunications Corporation. The share split in the scheme was 40% British, 50% American, and 10% Canadian.  Wikipedia

 TAT-1 carried 588 London-US calls and 119 London-Canada calls in the first 24 hours of public service.

This is a short film about TAT 1

And this link takes you to a longer film about TAT 1 and its development.

BUILDING THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC TELEPHONE CABLE “VOICE BENEATH THE SEA” MD46164

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