Highlights of the Telecommunications History of South Africa
1900-1990
Year
Milestones
1902
The first public "call offices" (pay telephones) were introduced in South Africa.
1905
First exchange in Free State (Bloemfontein).
1909
Underground cables were introduced in Johannesburg, Pretoria and other major cities.
Farmers were allowed to erect own telephone lines at own costs.
1910
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs was created. WT Hoal was the first Post Master General (PMG) of the Union of SA.
Radio communications was used for the first time in South Africa when the Natal Administration established a coastal radiotelegraph station at the Bluff on 8 June to communicate with ships at sea. It could communicate with ships 400 km away. The first ship to shore radio off Bluff in Durban message was received from the twin-screw steamer, Zealander at 06:31.
Four provinces united under one Department - pre-Union regions were autonomous - with 13,650 services.
1911
The first Postal Act, No 10 was introduced.
1913
The Creed high-speed telegraph system was put into operation. Uniform telephone rates were introduced.
1918
The Telephone and Telegraph Association (a Labour Union) was formed in Johannesburg. It was dissolved and became part of ATU in 1997.
1922
The multiplex telegraph system ("teletype") opened between Cape Town and Johannesburg. This allowed 4 telegraphs to work in each direction simultaneously on a single line.
The first experimental automatic telephone exchanges were installed at Waterkloof in Pretoria in July and at Camps Bay in the Cape in September the same year.
The first outdoor telephone booths, made from concrete piping were introduced.
Telephone trunk line opened between Johannesburg and Cape Town. It was made possible by the use of voice frequency repeaters.
1923
Five repeaters installed between Cape Town and Johannesburg to allow speech between two cities on telephone trunk lines.
1924
First carrier system installed.
First two automatic telephone exchanges installed, one in Port Elizabeth the other in Pietermaritzburg. First South Africa to United Kingdom radiotelegraph communications.
The first telegraph typewriter known as the teleprinter were brought into use in South Africa between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The first overseas radiotelegraph message was received from London on 3 December.
The first official radio broadcasting service of the Associated Scientific and Technical Societies started in July 1924.
1927
The African Broadcasting Company was founded in April, later to become the SABC.
The first three-channel carrier system (3 and 12-channel) used in South Africa was instituted between Johannesburg and Durban with two repeater stations along the route.
1928
The first landline for broadcasting is used between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
1929-49
Black bakelite phones used.
1932
First automation programme undertaken.
The first direct telephone call (voice radio) to London from Cape Town took place on 1 February using radiotelephone - 1 channel.
1933
First discussion debating split between Post Office and Telecomms.
1934
Telex exchange (12 and 3 channel system) in Cape Town and Johannesburg installed.
1935
The telex (telegraph) system was introduced to South Africa. This system allowed private subscribers to be inter-connected via a special manual telegraph exchange.
Every rural town in South Africa was connected to the trunk exchange system.
1936
Short wave radio station for international traffic commissioned at Robert's Heights. Used by military during Second World War.
1937
First SOJ (Speech Open Wire - J System) 12-channel - USA system - introduced.
1938
40 Automatic exchanges operational.
1938
40 Automatic exchanges operational.
1940
In December the SABC decided to broadcast "Nkosi Sikelela I Afrika" as concluding item of its Black station broadcasting.
1944
First 12 channel system between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
There are 264,037 services and 40,000 waiters.
Huge training initiative started. Disabled employed.
First underground cable between Johannesburg and Vereeniging, Cape Town and Somerset West.
United Kingdom-United States of America radio service established.
1946-47
Cambridge exchange automated. 26,412 staff.
1947
26,000 new services provided - rural priority - rental 7 pounds per year from Post Office, 5 pounds from railways. 23 telecommunication-training facilities established.
Cheese-dish black phone introduced. Exchanges classified into 3 classes coupled to promotion of staff: Class 1 - 750 services, class 2 between 50 and 750 services, class 3 less than 50 services.
First facsimile (photo-telegram) service introduced in South Africa between Johannesburg-Cape Town-Durban-Port Elizabeth-Bloemfontein.
1948
The Postal Administration purchased the external cable service of Cable & Wireless Ltd. on 1 January for 330,000 pounds - up until then this private company handled all foreign radio telegraph and voice services.
In March a direct radiotelephone and radiotelegraph service (South Africa-United States of America and South Africa-Belgian) with the Congo (Leopoldville) opened.
Exchanges re-classified, Class 1 - 500 services and 2m units per year, class 2 between 51 and 500 services and 2m units per year, class 3 less than 50 services and less than 180,000 units per year.
78 United Kingdom staff recruited. Post Office staff 21,2% woman = 5,930.
First co-axe system and microwave.
1949
Public Service Commission rejects equal treatment of people of different colour. White / Non-White signs introduced. First South Africa-United States of America voice radio service established.
1947-50
Exchanges at Bloemfontein, Rietfontein automated.
1950
Alternate language month policy introduced.
South Africa develops local 12-channel system that support 27 voice channels. World record established by operating 400 trunks lines over a single carrier overhead route of 16 pairs.
Rural local calls were free up to this time.
Between 1947 and 1950: 385,064 services; 95,995 installs; 30,638 staff; 109,639 waiters (in United States of America: 31m to 52m telephones).
First 24 channel system between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
South Africa-Rhodesia voice radio link established.
Ship to Shore service commissioned along east coast - Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town.
Staff compliment: White 22,439; Coloured 635; Indian 40; and Black 5,012.
25,600 staff - permanent only. 184 Dutch technicians employed. Workweek changed from 39 to 42 hour week.
1951-52
46,983 farm lines, 5,375 new installs at a cost of 1,024,406 pounds.
1952
479,823 services, 53,164 installs, 99,180 waiters.
First co-axe system between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Cable theft becomes a problem.
South Africa-Australia voice radio link established.
Radio link between Pretoria and Nairobi. Cost per port R80.
The co-axial cable system installed between Durban and Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria and Johannesburg to Vereeniging. These allowed 1,920 speech channels over the cable.
Direct radiotelephone service between South Africa and Australia in September.
First radio link between South Africa and United Kingdom and America - 4 channel telex system - 423 telex services operational.
1954
Only 8,3% Afrikaans speaking in top 24 jobs. Afrikaans speaking given preference even with lower educational qualifications. South Africa-Argentina voice radio link established first radio link to South America.
1955
Split between Post Office and Telecom again raised.
South Africa voice radio links with Bahamas, Chile, Greece, Germany.
The first automatic telex (teleprinter) exchange was installed in Johannesburg with facilities to reach all major centres in the country.
The first transistor radio receiver in South Africa was build by F Donkerbroek at the SAPT laboratories.
1955-56
36-channel voice system installed.
665,669 services; 71,602 waiters; 60,998 farms; 11,448 public. Bad debt 12,563 pounds.
1956
South African Federated Chamber of Industries calls for split between Post Office and Telecoms. Carrier route between Johannesburg and Cape Town via Kimberley commissioned.
Start of automation of trunk network. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established.
1957
82 Auto exchanges exist.
Russia launches Sputnik I.
1958
Modern radio transmitting and receiving stations at Olifantsfontein and Derdepoort were taken into service. These stations made available 19 telephone and 98 telex and telegraph connections to about 100 countries possible.
The Centenary telephone (grey colour with maroon handset) was the first plastic telephone used in South Africa.
First private telex services between South Africa-United Kingdom and South Africa-United States of America and South Africa-Belgian Congo. PO staff 34,1% woman = 10,937.
Radio transmitting and receiving station at Olifantsfontein and Derdepoort commissioned.
1958-59
Capex 9,097,050 pounds.
1959
South Africa's network 19th largest in the world. Post Office dictionary introduced.
The first licence for a telephone answering service (a telephone connection for answering of the telephone and recording a message) was issued.
1960
First SOX 12 channel system between Bloemfontein and Klerksdorp. South Africa has the third largest overhead carrier system in the world. First satellite connection in co-operation with America.
The first line-of-sight microwave tested in South Africa: Pretoria-Johannesburg route and first commercial microwave system (838,000 services and 1,700 telex services) commissioned between Johannesburg and Klerksdorp on 31 March.
Sharpeville reversed a number of policies.
Staff compliment: White 32,005; Coloured 1,897; Indian 75; and Black 7,351.
1960-61
Automated trunk dialling. 91 auto exchanges.
Uniselector becomes the standard.
879,945 services; 14,615 waiters; 86,682 farms; 14,093 public. Bad debt R86,023.
1961
PO salary R660 per year; Railways R1,160 per year; Municipality R1,350 per year.
Whites to deliver in white areas introduced.
Cut ties with commonwealth - isolation started.
12 Telex services to London, 1 to Leopoldville, 1 to USA Washington, 1 to USA Los Angeles.
1962
National subscribers trunk dialling was introduced.
Telex service to America.
Gentex introduced.
PCM introduced in South Africa. Also first year introduced in United States of America.
1960-65
Trunk Lines between Durban-Johannesburg-Bloemfontein-Pretoria-Vereeniging.
1963
Rental changed from yearly to monthly. Mobile radio service demand increases.
1963-64
109 auto exchanges.
First fully automated farm line system installed -Bethlehem and Virginia.
1964
The mobile public VHF radiotelephone service was introduced in Johannesburg, March 1964.
71 countries connected with Telex.
First data transmission commissioned.
1965-66
SAT 1 cable laid between Cape Town and Europe - cost R50m. 1,119,878 services; 33,203 waiters; 91,939 farms; and 16,160 public. South African service increased by 72, 5%; Sweden 61, 5% and America 68, 1%.
Bad Debt R43, 420.
1965
The first data transmission in South Africa took place.
1966
Staff compliment: White 33,499; Coloured 3,458; Indian 281; and Black 8,803.
1967
First fully electronic telephone in the world, transistor phone. Woman employed as Technical Assistant.< developed England in Henley AEI introduced. was - world the telephone electronic fully first IV) (Mk Protea The>
1967-68
1,704 PBX's incoming international calls: 42,306, outgoing: 47,517.
1968
The Post Office attains autonomy, but still not split into two entities. The PO took control over its staff, finances, buildings (minor works) vehicles, etc. (The Post Office Re-adjustment Act of 1968 - Act No 67 of 1968).
First 24 channel PCM systems introduced between Vereeniging and Meyerton.
1,322,000 services. PO staff 35,7% woman = 12,331.
Microwave services installed between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
1968-69
154 auto exchanges; 1,311,864 services; 79,545 waiters; 98,589 farms; 17,469 public. Bad Debt R34,467.
1969
First computer installed in Post Office to do billing.
Telex service automated - auto dialing.
Submarine cable - SAT-1 (the co-axial submarine cable between Cape Town and Lisbon) opened. On 1 Feb it provided 360 telephone circuits (analogue).
Staff housing subsidy introduced.
Microwave route between Cape Town and Melkbosstrand installed. Connected to 93 countries. Full auto links between Zimbabwe-South West and South Africa in addition to 95 countries - Telex.
The private Durban Telephone Corporation was taken over by the Department of P&T.
Telephone accounts were fully computerized on 1 October.
1970
Installation of the millionth telephone in South Africa on 29 April.
South Africa ranked fifth country in terms of teledensity.
1971
Opening of the Hillbrow (Johannesburg) microwave Tower on 17 April.
1972
The international automatic telephone exchange opened in Cape Town.
First 30 channel 2.048 Mbit/s Pulse Code Modulation system installed between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
1974
The name of the Department Posts and Telegraphs was changed to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications on 1 February.
1975
South Africa's first satellite communication was provided by Intelsat (used the IV A series) on 2 December via the Hartebeesthoek satellite earth station that was also opened.
The 2 millionth telephone, a golden Protea telephone, was presented to a Witwatersrand client on 28 May.
1976
South Africa' first television service, TV1, was established on 5 January and offered 37 hours of broadcast per week.
1977
The first non-white technicians trained by the Post Office qualified in May.
1978
The SAPT was one of the first organizations in the world to changeover from analogue to digital switching.
1979
The first electronic telex exchange (Electronic Data Switching - EWSD) was opened in Johannesburg (Sunninghill Park) on 20 September. The electro-mechanical exchange it replaced was the biggest in the world under one roof.
1980
The first E10 digital exchange commissioned in Pretoria (Proes Street).
1981
First optic fibre cable commissioned between Roodepoort and Witpoortjie - 34Mbit/sec system.
The 140 Mb/s and 565 Mb/s fibre systems were also introduced.
Change from multi-mode to single mode fibre. Local production of fibre cable.
The first electronic telephone exchange, a French SA 128, was opened in Pretoria on 23 October.
First push button phone (telephone dial was replaced by push-button switching) was introduced with the introduction of the Lorea telephone.
1982
Saponet-P x.25 packet switching launched.
1983
The first optic fibre cable system with a capacity of 1,920 circuits was put into operations in 1983 between New Doornfontein and Power Park.
History was made when the Disa telephone was designed, developed and manufactured in South Africa and made its appearance as the first locally produced electronic telephone.
1984
The first digital microwave system was introduced between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
1985
The toll-free telephone service was introduced in November. All calls to these numbers were debited to the account of the subscriber and no cost to the person making the call.
1986
The first black staff association (POTWA) was constituted.
Beltel the videotext service was introduced.
The introduction of Diginet, a digital point-to-point communication service to data users.
The Magnolia rural farm-line system was instigated to replace the existing magneto farm lines.
1987
The first C450 analogue cellular radio mobile telephone system was commissioned.
Frame Relay deployed.
1988
TDM-CBR leased lines commissioned.
South Africa's first card telephone was installed on 3 March in Pretoria. With a prepaid call card direct dialing was possible worldwide from these public telephones.
1989
Introduction of local call timing.
1990
On 10 April the 5 millionth telephone was issued in Pretoria.
