Revolutionising Connectivity - Pioneering SubSea Cables
The River Tay at Dundee was one of the first test sites in the world for sub-sea telegraph cables in 1852 along with the Forth Estuary that forms the southern border of Fife. This was part of programme of estuary tests around Britain. The development of undersea telegraph cables has significant roots in Dundee, primarily due to the work of Robert Stirling Newall. A test cable was laid across the Tay in 1853 using technology developed in the city.
Robert Newall
Born in Dundee in 1812, Robert Newall was a pivotal figure in the advancement of submarine telegraphy. His innovations in wire rope manufacturing enabled the successful laying of the first undersea telegraph cables. A Key innovation was the use of Gutta percha as an insulating material to protect cables from the harsh under-sea environment. In the late 1830s, Newall, alongside partners, improved wire rope technology, which was essential for the durability and efficiency of these cables. This technology allowed for the successful installation of the first telegraph cable across the English Channel in 1851 and later contributed to the laying of the first transatlantic cable in 1866.
Gutta Percha Insulation
Gutta percha was introduced to Britain in 1843 although there were no applications for it initially. It proved ideal as an insulator and was the main insulator used for over 80 years. Introduced to Britain in 1843, It is the gum of a tree native to the Malay Peninsula and Malaysia. India rubber has to be vulcanised but Gutta percha is thermoplastic – it softens under heat and returns to sold form as it cools. This means it can easily be moulded for use.
“To reach the northernmost parts of Scotland the Electric Telegraph Company chose the most direct route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, crossing the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay with underwater cables. It employed its own assistant engineer, F.C. Webb, later of Atlantic cable fame, to manage the works, using its own cable steamer, the Monarch. The circuit comprised four separate single-cored cables, insulated by the Gutta-Percha Company and armoured by R.S. Newall & Co., laid bound-together as a single “rope”. The Forth estuary route was so busy that the line of the cable was buoyed to warn ships of its presence, to avoid anchor damage.”
Newall's work in Dundee set the stage for the global expansion of submarine telegraphy, transforming international communication. The use of gutta percha as an insulating material was a significant breakthrough, providing the necessary protection for the cables against the harsh underwater environment. These early advancements paved the way for modern undersea cables, which now form the backbone of global telecommunications, carrying vast amounts of data and enabling the internet and other digital communications.
Tay Cities Deal Tay5G
Speaking of communications networks, take a look at Tay Cities Deal Tay5G - a programme of trials of applications over 5G mobile telecoms. These include drones for search and rescue and offshore services, eSports, virtual production and connected communities/smart cities.