TransCanada Microwave System Milestone Dedication – London Section
Murray MacDonald, London Section Life Members Chair murraymacdonald@dmichaelson
During the early-1950’s, the operational feasibility of using inter-city microwave relays for telephone and television transmission was proven, first in Atlantic Canada and later in Central Canada. The effort soon shifted to overcoming the various financial and regulatory hurdles that made deployment of a coast-to-coast telephone and television network a truly daunting task.
On 8 March 1955, construction of the national system began. Just over three years later, on 18 June 1958, operation of the entire network was successfully demonstrated. The system was officially opened on 1 July 1958 via a live coast-to-coast television broadcast called “A Memo to Champlain” and celebrated by a commemorative booklet.
