Imperial Wireless Chain

The Imperial Wireless Chain was a strategic international wireless telegraphy communications network, created to link the countries of the British Empire. Although the idea was conceived prior to World War I, Britain was the last of the world's Great Powers to implement an operational system. The first link in the chain, between Leafield in Oxfordshire and Cairo, Egypt, eventually opened on 24 April 1922, with the final link, between Australia and Canada, opening on 16 June 1928.

In 1910 the Colonial Office received a formal proposal from the Marconi Company, to construct series of wireless telegraphy stations to link the British Empire within three years. While not then accepted, the Marconi proposal created serious interest in the concept.

Parliament ruled out the creation of a private monopoly to provide the service and concluded that no government department was in a position to do so, and the Treasury were very reluctant to fund the creation of a new department. It was decided that contracting the construction to a commercial "wireless company" was the favoured option, and a contract was signed with Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company in March 1912. The Government then found itself facing severe criticism and appointed a select committee to examine the topic. After hearing evidence from the Admiralty, War Office, India Office, and representatives from South Africa, the Committee unanimously concluded that a "chain of Imperial wireless stations" should be established as a matter of urgency. An Expert Committee also advised that Marconi were the only company with technology that was proven to operate reliably over the distances required (in excess of 2,000 miles (3,200 km)) "if rapid installation and immediate and trustworthy communication be desired".

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