The interior of Somerton, one of the four wireless stations operated by Cable & Wireless in England for overseas telegraphy in 1948. Somerton was a receiving station for telegraph and facsimile services mainly with Australia, South Africa, Canada, India, USA, Egypt, South America and the Far East.

ONCE THE TELEGRAPH service had combined with Marconi’s wireless services in 1929, the use of radio developed in tandem with cables. A picture service was introduced, revolutionising international reporting and information. By 1954 Cable & Wireless had 150,000 miles of submarine cable and 200,000 miles of wireless circuits. At Porthcurno Engineering School, students were trained in the use of radio, including VHF mobile communications.

Map showing Wireless Telegraph Services ‘Via Marconi’ 1920’s.	VHF radio experiments in Porthcurno station van, 1954.	‘Imperial’ poster advertising the wonders of phototelegraphy, forerunner of the modern ‘Fax’ machine

See Also
Radio 1907 to 1928 Marconi Porthcurno