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We also wish to thank Lucy Spencer and Hélène Eckert for their critical reading and editing of the text. © 2015 ITU International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the International Telecommunication Union. Denominations and classifications employed in this publication do not imply any opinion on the part of the International Telecommunication Union concerning the legal or other status of any territory or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary. ISBN: 978-92-61-15681-7 CONTENTS 05 PREFACE 06 INTRODUCTION 08 THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH: THE FIRST NATIONAL NETWORKS 12 INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPHY: THE COMPLEX PRE-1865 DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENTS 15 Central and Eastern Europe 16 Western Europe 17 Efforts to harmonize the two European Unions 18 THE INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE (PARIS, 1865) 24 THE NEW CONVENTION AND ITS REGULATIONS AND TARIFFS TEXTS IN FRAMES 08 The pre-electric telegraph: Chappe’s Semaphore 10 The first European electric telegraph lines 11 Reuter’s telegrams 15 The first International Telegraph Agreement 19 ‘Modern’ Paris in 1865 25 Creation of the Bureau, not in 1865 but in 1868 26 The significance of the 1865 conference and its international treaty 27 ENDNOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS 28 BIBLIOGRAPHY 29 CONVENTION TÉLÉGRAPHIQUE INTERNATIONALE DE 1865 (FACSIMILE) 84 PARTICIPANTS 86 TIMELINE SINCE 1865 Quai d’ Orsay 1850 05 For a century and a half since 1865, ITU has been at the centre of advances in FOREWORD communications – from telegraphy, BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL telephony, radio and television through to satellites, mobiles, Internet and broadband. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the ITU’s 150th anniversary is not only a International Telecommunication Union. celebration of the founding of ITU, but also Since the first International Telegraph a tribute to the incredible engineering feat Convention was signed in 1865 to the which is today’s ICT and telecommunication present, our membership has grown from its ecosystem; the ecosystem which now original 20 to the current 193 Member States underpins societies and economies around and over 700 Sector Members, Associates the world, and which will be the foundation and Academia members. of an environmentally sustainable future. The story of ITU is This publication describes the environment PREFACE one of international that led to the founding of ITU back cooperation and in 1865, and provides a fascinating collaboration amongst governments, look at the world of communications private companies and other stakeholders technologies 150 years ago and how many in the information and communication of the challenges that led to its creation technology (ICT) sector. remain today. I trust that readers will In 2015, we celebrate both the vision of find it interesting and informative. ITU’s founding members and the ongoing commitment of ITU Membership towards the principle of global collaboration and harmony that helped to found ITU back in 1865. Indeed, these are values that as Secretary-General I am determined to uphold firmly at ITU – to ensure that the collaboration and unity of purpose which Houlin Zhao marked the beginnings of ITU continue Secretary-General to underpin its work in radio-spectrum International management, telecommunication Telecommunication Union standards and connecting the world. April, 2015 06 INTRODUCTION The International Telecommunication A century and a half later, the Union (ITU) has developed and thrived fundamental objectives of the organization in an era of unprecedented discovery are basically unchanged. ITU has developed and innovation. Throughout its 150 year with the rapidly changing landscape of history, ITU has promoted international telecommunications throughout this period, cooperation, working to achieve as reflected in its rich 150 year history. practical solutions to integrate new communications technologies as they develop and to spread their benefits to all. The historic signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telegraph Union has had a profound influence on the global communications landscape. In the mid-19th century, telegraph lines did not cross national frontiers because each country used a different system and equipment. Messages had to be transcribed, translated and handed over at borders before being retransmitted over the telegraph network of the neighbouring country. It is therefore not surprising that countries decided to conclude agreements to interconnect their networks. On 17 May 1865, after two and a half months of arduous negotiations, the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris by its twenty founding members, and the International Telegraph Union (the first incarnation of ITU) was created. This first international convention created a framework to standardize telegraphy equipment, set uniform operating instructions, and lay down common international tariff and accounting rules. 07 Morse key. 08 THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH: THE FIRST NATIONAL NETWORKS Electricity’s use in technology began in ways to communicate over distance had the mid-19th century, greatly expanding reached a life-changing new level. mankind’s capacity and scope for practical This exciting new medium superseded achievement. Nowhere was this seen more and largely outperformed all previous dramatically than through the invention means of long-distance communications. of the electric telegraph. Experiments Long gone were the days of smoke signals, were conducted in sending electric signals homing pigeons, post riders and the mail and telegraph lines soon linked major coach, which had been the mainstay towns in many countries; man’s age- methods humans used to communicate for old quest for more rapid and effective millennia. Nor was the optical telegraph THE PRE-ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH: CHAPPE’S SEMAPHORE Introduced by French a distance” and drawbacks was télégraphiste and engineer Claude “graphien,” meaning the need for good instructed him to Chappe (1763-1805) “to write”. weather conditions establish a line of in 1792, the visual to deliver messages semaphore stations telegraph system Chappe’s system – the system was between Paris and was widely used consisted of a set disrupted by rainy or Lille. The military throughout Europe of moveable arms misty weather, and victory of French until the 1850s before mounted on the top messages could not troops at Quesnoy it was phased out of a tower or hill. The be sent at night. in 1794 was the first by the advent of position of the arms news transmitted electric telegraphy. indicated a letter of There was a over that line. It was the first the alphabet, a word desperate need for genuine ‘organized or an idea. Messages swift and reliable The visual telegraph communication were relayed from communication in was by no doubt system’ in history. one signal tower to France during the the fastest means When naming his another – placed at revolutionary years of communication system, Chappe used roughly 10 kilometres from 1790-1795. In at the time. Various the word ‘telegraph’ apart – and the response, in the sources indicate for the first time: the messages were summer of 1793, the that the duration of term comes from read with the aid of French government transmission was the Greek words a telescope. One of appointed Chappe at best about 20 “tele,” meaning “at the systems major Ingénieur- to 30 seconds per Portrait of Claude Chappe. 09 semaphore system, the immediate • A desire to have a rapid and reliable predecessor of the electric telegraph, a means of communications for diplomatic match for this promising new medium. correspondence and state affairs, Almost immediately after it was • The recognition that the telegraph was proven practical, nations began an indispensable asset for the safe and installing electric telegraph networks. rapid functioning of the railroads which For the most part,