Telephones landmarks [India]

1876-The telephone was invented in USA.

1881-The Oriental telephone company, was licensed to open telephone exchanges in India

1882- First Telephone exchange was opened in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Ahmadabad.

The central exchange Calcutta had 93 subscribers.

1907-First central battery telephone exchange installed at Kanpur.

1913-14- Automatic telephone exchange opened in Simla, [HimachalPradesh].

1927-Radio Telegraphy started between India and UK.

1933-Radio telephony started between UK and India.

1953- A 12 channel carrier system was installed for trunk working in India.

1960- The STD service between Lukhnow and Kanpur was commissioned.

1975- First PCM system installed between Bombay and Andheri, for local junction working.

1979- The OFC [Optical fiber cable] system was installed at Pune, for local junction working.

1984- C-DOT [committee on development of Telematics] established for manufacture of digital switches.

1995- First mobile telephony service started at New Delhi.

The department of posts and telegraphs was owned by Central Government of India. The telephone exchanges were controlled by P and T department. Post Master General was the head of a circle. Indian telephone industry [ITI] was the public sector company to manufacture the system requirements of Telecommunications.

1985-DOT [Department of Telecom] was separated as independent department.

1986- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam [MTNL] and Videsh Sanchar Nigam [VSNL] were separated.

Microwave towers were installed along the length and breadth of the country as trunk routs.STD services were extended to District headquarters. Digital exchanges were manufactured and large scale expansions were carried out with modern switching centers. OFC cables were buried throughout the nation for trunk services.

Liberalization activity started to meet the demand of the general public.

1997-TRAI [Telephone regulatory Authority of India] was constituted.

2000-TDSAT [Telecom Dispute Settlement and appellate Tribunal] was formed.

The Operating wing of DOT was converted into a corporation called Bharat Sanchar Nigam [BSNL].