Proposal for a Digital Communication Network
June 1966 [ Davies05.pdf ]

The contents of this lecture was later recorded and circulated privately entitled 'Proposal for a digital communication network' dated June 1966 (ref. [2]). This paper contained extensive details of the proposed communication network along with the 'cost estimate' to implement such system.

The first line of this paper (ref. [2], Para. 1, Pg. 1) read, "In this report an outline case is made for the development of a new kind of national communication network which would complement the existing telephone and telegraph networks". In the UK there were some political dangers in entering the field of communication because the provision of telecommunication services was a monopoly of the Post Office. Davies' combination of professional expertise and political awareness successfully avoided this pitfall. In his historical note (ref. [1], Para. 3, Pg. 4) Davies wrote, "The Post Office reaction at the March 1966 lecture and at discussions which followed was surprisingly tolerant towards this proposal. People in my own Department, the Ministry of Technology as it was then called, were also interested but it was never considered seriously as a practical possibility".