1852
The birth of telecommunications in Switzerland: the first public telegraph service between St. Gallen and Zurich opens on 15 July.
The Federal Council appoints Zurich-born Johannes Wild director of the new wire service.
1866
The first transatlantic cable is laid. Dawn of the era of intercontinental telegraphy.
1876
USA: Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone.
1878
The federal government's monopoly now includes telephony although the principle of private concessions is upheld.
1880
Installation of the first manual switchboards.
The first telephone directory published in Zurich contains just 141 subscribers.
1885
The Swiss Confederation buys back the Zurich network, which is lagging behind the rest of the Swiss telephone network.
1890
Introduction of telephone numbers. Up until now, it has been possible to ring people up on the basis of name alone.
1896
Telephone introduced in all Swiss cantons.
1911
The Ecole d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds receives the first concession for reception of the time signal transmitted from the Eiffel Tower.