A catalyst of change

Communication technology began with the invention of the telegraph in the 1830s, followed by the telephone, in the second half of the 19th century.

By making communication over distances possible these inventions changed the world. Initially, they were limited by their reliance on copper wire, then, with the discovery that electronic signals and voice could be transmitted over vast distances by means of radio waves, the world suddenly got smaller. (The discovery of radio waves also saw the introduction of broadcasting by means of radio and television.)

These inventions served us well as they went through various developments over the next century. Then in the 1980s things started to change very rapidly with the arrival of another world-changing invention, the personal computer, followed by the cellular phone and the Internet and the instant connectivity and access to information and entertainment that they provided. Even before the end of the 20th century early versions of the smartphone were already available. Nowadays, the convergence of telecommunications (telecoms) and information technology (IT) into information communication technology (ICT) has made ICT an essential part of how we run our businesses, our cities, hospitals, etc, and our personal lives.

Enlarge communication history graphic