British Commonwealth Ocean Cables

In planning for the first transatlantic telephone cable (1955-56) two systems were considered, the two-cable, flexible repeater, 36-circuit system developed by A. T. & T. and the single cable, rigid repeater, 60-circuit system developed by the British Post Office, primarily for shallow water. The American system, which more readily overcame the problems associated with laying repeaters in armored cable at ocean depths, was used for the main Atlantic crossing; the British system, more economical in its concept, was used between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. As early as 1951, work on an armorless deep-sea cable with a torsionally balanced strength member at the center had been initiated in the British Post Office and when, in 1957, it was agreed between the British and Canadian Governments to provide a "high-capacity" telephone system between the two countries, the new British cable with rigid repeaters was adopted. In 1958 a Commonwealth Communication Conference evolved plans for a "round-the-World" cable similar to CANTAT. As soon as CANTAT was completed in 1961 work began on a transpacific cable (COMPAC) between Vancouver and Sydney via Hawaii, Fiji and Auckland; this was opened for service in 1963. The next sections (SEACOM) are now under construction; the Singapore-Jesselton, Hong-Kong links will be completed this year, Queensland-New Guinea, in 1965 and the closing link in 1966.