Cablegram

Definition

A cablegram, also known as a submarine telegram, is a form of telegram that is transmitted across international borders via underwater communication cables. These cables lie on the ocean floor, enabling long-distance telecommunication by physically connecting different landmasses across seas and oceans.

Examples

Transatlantic Cablegram: A message sent from New York City to London utilizing the transatlantic submarine cable laid in the 19th century.
Pacific Cablegram: Communication between the United States and Japan via the undersea cable running under the Pacific Ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a cablegram and a telegram?

A telegram can be transmitted through various means, including overhead wires and radio signals. A cablegram specifically refers to messages sent through submarine cables submerged underwater.

Are cablegrams still used today?

The use of cablegrams has significantly declined with the advent of satellite communications and the Internet. However, submarine communication cables are still integral to Internet infrastructure, handling the bulk of international data transfer.

How did cablegrams impact global communication?

Cablegrams revolutionized global communication by enabling faster, reliable, and more secure transmission of messages across continents, significantly impacting commerce, diplomacy, and personal communication.

What technologies have replaced cablegrams?

Satellite communications, fiber-optic cables, and the Internet have largely replaced traditional cablegrams for long-distance communication.

How were cablegrams transmitted?

Cablegrams were transmitted as electrical signals through copper or, in modern systems, fiber-optic cables submerged underwater.

Telegraph: An early communication system that sends messages over long distances by using coded signals.

Submarine Communication Cables: Underwater cables used for telecommunication between continents.

Satellite Communication: The use of satellite technology to transmit and receive signals over long distances.

Fiber-optic Communication: The transmission of information as light signals through fiber-optic cables.

Online References

Suggested Books for Further Studies

The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage - Explores the historical development of the telegraph and cablegram.
A Thread Across the Ocean: The Heroic Story of the Transatlantic Cable by John Steele Gordon - Details the history of submarine cables.
The Submarine Telegraph by Charles Bright - An in-depth look at the technicalities of early submarine telegraphy.

Fundamentals of Cablegram: Communication Basics Quiz

### What is a cablegram? - [x] A telegram sent overseas by means of a submerged wire. - [ ] A postal letter sent internationally. - [ ] A telegram sent via radio waves. - [ ] An electronic email. > **Explanation:** A cablegram is a telegram sent through underwater communication cables, specifically designed for international communication. ### What technology largely replaced the traditional use of cablegrams? - [ ] Morse code - [x] Satellite communication - [ ] Smoke signals - [ ] Semaphore flags > **Explanation:** Satellite communication, along with the Internet and fiber-optic technology, largely replaced the traditional use of cablegrams. ### Which ocean saw the first transatlantic cable laid for cablegrams? - [x] Atlantic Ocean - [ ] Pacific Ocean - [ ] Indian Ocean - [ ] Arctic Ocean > **Explanation:** The first transatlantic cable was laid across the Atlantic Ocean, connecting the United States and the United Kingdom. ### What are modern submarine cables primarily used for? - [ ] Oil transportation - [x] Data and Internet communication - [ ] Sending telegrams - [ ] Fishing > **Explanation:** Modern submarine cables are primarily used for data and Internet communication between continents. ### How were early cablegrams typically transmitted? - [ ] Via satellite signals - [x] As electrical signals - [ ] Through fiber optics - [ ] By mail > **Explanation:** Early cablegrams were transmitted as electrical signals through submerged copper cables. ### What major advancement did cablegrams contribute to in the 19th century? - [ ] Local mail delivery - [ ] Rail transportation - [x] Long-distance international communication - [ ] Aviation > **Explanation:** Cablegrams significantly advanced long-distance international communication by enabling faster transmission of messages across continents. ### Are submarine communication cables still in use today? - [x] Yes, primarily for Internet data transfer. - [ ] No, they have been completely replaced by satellites. - [ ] Only in coastal regions. - [ ] Only for military use. > **Explanation:** Submarine communication cables are still in use today, primarily for transferring vast amounts of Internet data internationally. ### How did cablegrams affect international business in the 19th century? - [ ] Made it slower. - [ ] Had no effect. - [x] Made it faster and more efficient. - [ ] Eliminated the need for communication. > **Explanation:** Cablegrams vastly improved the speed and efficiency of international business communications, fostering globalization and international trade. ### What replaced copper in modern telecommunication for transmitting signals? - [ ] Lead - [ ] Silver - [ ] Iron - [x] Fiber-optics > **Explanation:** Fiber-optic cables have replaced copper cables in modern telecommunication, owing to their higher efficiency and capacity for data transmission. ### In what form were early communications sent through cablegrams coded? - [x] Morse code - [ ] Binary code - [ ] ASCII - [ ] Unicode > **Explanation:** Early communications sent via cablegrams were often coded using Morse code, a standardized method of encoding textual information.

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