COOK STRAIT CABLES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26032, 8 February 1950, Page 7

COOK STRAIT CABLES

POST OFFICE PLANS ADDITIONS

CIRCUITS TO BE ALMOST DOUBLED (New Zealand Press Association) A ELLINGTON, February 7. Equipment that will almost double the number of channels of Post Office communications between the North and South Islands has been ordered by the Post and Telegraph Department in Britain. In addition, the equipment will provide four special wideband broadcast channels for music. It is expected in New Zealand about the middle of next year. “The new equipment is to provide additional channels as part of the normal development to meet increasing demands on the Post Office communication system,” said the PostmasterGeneral (Mr W. J. Broadfoot) this afternoon. At present communication between the two islands is provided by two coaxial cables and one very highfrequency radio link. 'The two cables together at present provide 34 speech channels and 24 telegraphic channels and the radio link provides two channels. The equipment on order will increase the number of channels over the two cables to 62 speech channels, four special wideband broadcast channels for music, and 36 telegraph channels.

Mr Broadfoot said that equipment was also included in the order to increase the number of channels on the landlines to enable the additional circuits over the cables to be extended to Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin.