Radio Communication for the Colonies

Abstract

ACCORDING to a statement in The Times of November 30, the chairman and managing director of Messrs. Cable and Wireless, Ltd., has made an offer to the Government to create a system of wireless telegraphic and telephonic communication throughout the Colonial Empire without cost to the administrations or the peoples concerned. The scheme provides for the installation of radio equipment at each of the cable stations where no commercial wireless service is already in operation. The Company will bear the cost of installation and any experiments necessary ; and while the new facilities will be complementary to the existing cable services, their commercial use will bring additional revenue to the Company. The scheme is of great significance from strategic and economic points of view ; the wireless stations will ensure a second line of defence for inter-Colonial communication, and provide the Colonies with a means for their keeping in touch with aircraft and ships in home waters ; in addition, Imperial development and unity will be promoted through an extension and cheapening of communications. The establishment of the service would also enable a great deal of valuable technical research to be carried out in connexion with the propagation of waves to various parts of the world. In view of the advantages accruing to the Colonies under the proposals, the offer has been made on the assumption that the Company would be given a non-restrictive licence on broad lines.