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The Transatlanic Telegraph Cable
Learn about the ships that laid the first undersea telegraph cable, telegraphs, and how the undersea cable impacted a famous Chicago story.
A 10-centimeter piece of the 1858 undersea cable, turned into a souvenir by Tiffany & Co. (IEEE Spectrum)
A Transatlantic Cable Timeline
The laying of the first transatlantic cable was not without challenges. It took many years and many several failed attempts before a robust cable was in service.
Cable on the HMS Agamemnon was used to lay the first transatlantic telegraph line, which began operating in 1858. (IEEE Spectrum)
A Modern “Transatlantic Cable”
Approximately 550 undersea cables exist today, although they are fiberoptic instead of telegraph (see some of them on the Submarine Cable Map). Additional satellite networks connect the continents from space.
OneWeb communication satellites stacked and prepared for launch. (BBC News)
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale based on the laying of the first undersea telegraph cable, Den store Søslange (The Great Sea Serpent).
The bookcover accompanying an exhibition at the Post & Tele Museum in Copenhagen tracing the history of 150 years of telegraphic communications within Denmark, and in the wider context of worldwide links. (Post & Tele Museum)
