First telegraph submarine cable between Great Britain and India completed

Background. Submarine cables laid on the seabed carry telecommunication signals across oceans. The first such cables began in the 1850s, establishing instant links between continents. By 1870, the SS Great Eastern had laid the first cable reaching India from Aden. British officials viewed reliance on non-British territory as a security risk, prompting government-backed efforts to secure direct lines.

Porthcurno Station. Porthcurno, a small village on the south coast of Cornwall, became internationally famous as the British termination point for early submarine telegraph cables. The first cable was landed there in 1870, forming part of an international link to India. The remote beach served as a major station, later hosting a cable office built by the Eastern Telegraph Company in 1872.

Company Formation. The connection between Bombay and London was established in 1870 via a combined operation by four cable companies. These predecessors, including the British-Indian Submarine Telegraph Company, were amalgamated in 1872 to form the Eastern Telegraph Company. Owned by John Pender, this entity became the largest cable operating company in the world during the 20th century.