0290 - Making light of history

Object Type: Asset

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0290 - Making light of history

A documentary which explores the development and implementation of submarine cables for telecommunications purposes. The film highlights the historical significance of slow communication during major events such as the Battle of Waterloo, where news traveled at a snail's pace via horse and sailing boat. It then contrasts this with the current advantage of knowing something seconds ahead of competitors due to optical fibre submarine cables that transmit telecommunications traffic, including speech channels, TV, and data, in the form of light as laser beams. The film explains how optical fibres are drawn from exceptionally pure glass, can carry the same traffic as much heavier copper cable, and have exceptional transmission characteristics that require fewer repeaters underwater. The film also discusses the joint venture between British Telecom, STC, West Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium to lay the world's first international optical fibrer submarine cable, UK Belgium 5, which has a capacity of 11,520 circuits. The film concludes by highlighting the successful commissioning of this new technology, which will enable large business users to lease circuits for exclusive use and revolutionize communication between major financial and business centres in Northern Europe.

Catalogue

Finding Number: BTA-MI1/0290

Date: 4th September 1986

Period: 1980s

Level: Item

Distribution: Unknown

Film function: Documenting events

Film subject: Submarine cables and cable ships

Event documented: Submarine cables and cable ships

Promotion Subject: Subsea cable services

Year: 1986

Repository: BT Archives (ARCHON 1814)

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