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History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
from the first submarine cable of 1850 to the worldwide fiber optic network

La Compagnie des Câbles Sud-Américains
by Bill Glover

LA COMPAGNIE DES CÂBLES SUD-AMÉRICAINS

Promoted by the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company and backed by French finance, including the French PTT, the company was set up to link France with South America.

In 1892 CS Silvertown laid a 1620 nm long cable from Dakar, Senegal to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil and then a 347 nm long cable to Pernambuco, Brazil. The system was extended in 1910-11 when Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke laid cables, Conakry, French Guinea - Monrovia, Liberia 309 nm and Monrovia - Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast 500 nm using CS Stephan.

Chartered vessels were used for maintenance until 1932 when CS Arago, belonging to the French PTT, was stationed on the West African coast.

Absorbed into La Compagnie Française de Câbles Sous-Marins et de Radio.

Last revised: 24 January, 2010

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—Bill Burns, publisher and webmaster: Atlantic-Cable.com