Overseas Telecommunications Commission

Last updated

Overseas Telecommunications Commission
Type State Owned Enterprise
Industry Telecommunication
Founded1944;79 years ago (1944)
Defunct1 February 1992;31 years ago (1992-02-01)
FateMerged with the Australian Telecommunications Corporation
Area served
Australia
OTC dish at Ceduna, South Australia. Ceduna OTC, South Australia.jpg
OTC dish at Ceduna, South Australia.

The Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC) was established by Australia in August 1946. It inherited facilities and resources from Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited (AWA) and Cable & Wireless, and was charged with responsibility for all international telecommunications services into, through and out of Australia. In effect, all overseas telecommunications was nationalized. Australia was adopting a Commonwealth-wide policy that had been adopted at the Commonwealth conference in 1945. The main goal was to end the artificial routing of traffic to cable or wireless depending on private financial profits. [1]

Contents

On 1 February 1992 it was merged with Australia's domestic telecommunications carrier, the Australian Telecommunications Corporation Limited ("Telecom Australia") to create the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Limited (AOTC). The new organisation underwent a corporate identity review and was subsequently renamed Telstra Corporation Limited ("Telstra").

When first established in 1946, OTC inherited facilities which had been depleted during World War 2, and faced rising costs and falling profits. From this tenuous beginning, the organisation was to grow over the years to gain world standing on the international telecommunications stage.

Throughout rapid developments in undersea cable networks, global satellite systems and burgeoning digital technologies, OTC maintained a keen watch over its services to ensure continued quality. It also maintained and developed its links with maritime services, one of the initial arms of Australia's international telecommunications network.

OTC Timeline 1946 to 1992

Background

When first established by an Act of Parliament in 1946, Australia's international telecommunications carrier – OTC – inherited facilities which had been depleted during World War II, and faced rising costs and falling profits. From this tenuous beginning, the organisation was to grow over the years to gain world standing on the international telecommunications stage.

The commission's role was the establishment, maintenance and operation of telecommunications services between Australia and other countries. Through the OTC communications, telegram, telephone, telex and photo-telegrams were relayed to other countries around the globe.  To undertake these functions the commission was part owner of overseas cables and international satellite facilities and it also operated international and coastal radio services in Australia and its territories.  The OTC could well call itself and its services ‘the World Shrinkers’ [2]

OTC's history shows how, by internal restructuring, upgrading its public image, making long-term investments in technologies and networks, and becoming a major player in international cooperative efforts, it played a vital role in the provision of Australia's international communications.

Throughout rapid developments in undersea cable networks, global satellite systems and burgeoning digital technologies, OTC maintained a keen watch over its services to ensure continued quality. It also maintained and developed its links with maritime services, one of the initial arms of Australia's international telecommunications network.

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References

  1. F. K. Crowley, Modern Australia in Documents. Vol. 2 1939-1970 (1973) pp 143-44.
  2. CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Sir Arthur Petfield and 'The World Shrinkers' (31 January 2022) published by the State Library of Queensland under CC-BY licence , accessed on 27 May 2022.