Nowadays, we think nothing of grabbing the phone out of our pocket and calling up our friends and family who may be located all over the world using a variety of different modern day apps such as WhatsApp and Facetime etc but in the not-so-distant past, communication across vast distances was a time-consuming and arduous process, requiring weeks or even months for messages to reach their destinations.
However, on this day (27th July) in 1866, a pivotal moment in history changed all that - the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable. This revolutionary feat of engineering transformed global communication forever, uniting continents and shrinking the world in ways previously unimaginable.
The idea of connecting Europe and North America with a telegraph cable beneath the Atlantic Ocean was first proposed in the mid-19th century. The notion intrigued visionaries and pioneers, who saw the potential for ground-breaking advancements in communication, trade, and diplomacy. The ambition to establish an instant telegraphic link between continents captured the imagination of inventors, entrepreneurs, and governments on both sides of the Atlantic.
The project to lay the transatlantic telegraph cable faced numerous challenges, both technical and financial. It wasn't until the 1850s that the efforts gained significant momentum. Several attempts were made, but early endeavours were plagued by technical failures and cable breaks during the laying process.
Finally, in 1866, after multiple setbacks, the British steamship "Great Eastern" embarked on an historic journey, carrying the first fully functional transatlantic telegraph cable. The cable, constructed with innovative insulation materials and strengthened with layers of armour, ran from Ireland to Newfoundland, Canada.
On August 5, 1858, the first transatlantic telegraph message was sent by Queen Victoria to President James Buchanan and was met with jubilation on both sides of the Atlantic., heralding a new era of global connectivity. The news spread quickly, and people marvelled at the near-instantaneous communication between continents.
This ground-breaking achievement revolutionised communication.
Diplomatic relations between countries were significantly strengthened as leaders could now communicate swiftly and efficiently. This played a vital role in shaping international policies and resolving conflicts promptly.
It facilitated swift transmission of trade-related information, enabling merchants to make well-informed decisions in real-time. Markets responded more rapidly to changing conditions, ultimately boosting transatlantic trade.
It also transformed the news industry, leading to the rise of international news agencies. Events happening on one continent could now be reported and disseminated across the globe within hours, fostering a greater sense of global awareness.
The success of the first transatlantic telegraph cable paved the way for further advancements in global communication technology. As telegraphy evolved into telephony, and eventually, the internet, the world has continued to shrink, transforming how we interact, conduct business, and access information.
But where do we go from here? What lies ahead for the future of telephony? It wasn’t long ago that video calling and being able to take and make calls on your phone everywhere, and anywhere, were the stories of science fiction. Will we even need a handset? Will we have telephony chips implanted into our bodies so you just have to think about someone to call them? I think Siri maybe a little upset if we could do that… 
