CTT - Correios de Portugal launched a philatelic broadcast dedicated to the 150 years of the submarine cable in Portugal

This Thursday, August 27, CTT - Correios de Portugal launched a philatelic broadcast dedicated to the 150 years of the submarine cable in Portugal, an innovation at the time considered the eighth wonder of the World.

This issue pays homage to the entry into service of the first submarine telegraph cable, as described in João Cadete de Matos, Chairman of ANACOM's Board of Directors. This first submarine cable connected Portugal (Carcavelos) to the United Kingdom (Porthcurno) and, at the inauguration, telegrams were exchanged between King D. Luís I and Queen Vitória.

The relevance of this innovation, at a time of great development in international trade, led to the communication by submarine cable receiving the title of the eighth wonder of the world.

The main Portuguese international submarine cable stations were Carcavelos (Continente), Horta (Azores), Funchal (Madeira) and São Vicente (Cape Verde). “In the tradition of« New Worlds to the World », so well expressed by Luís de Camões, Portugal managed to position itself in the global network of submarine cables as an important mooring point, promoting the interconnection of international systems”, he recalls, on the page, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ANACOM. Portugal “thus facilitated communications between continents and contributed to uniting the multiple and distant communities in which it was inserted”.

Recall that Portugal is currently the only country in the world with connections established on a direct submarine cable with all continents, except Antarctica. This technology is also essential to maintain the country's territorial cohesion, ensuring the connection of the Mainland to the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira and the interconnections between islands.

“In 2020, the year in which the 150th anniversary of the submarine cable is celebrated in Portugal, it is important to recognize the role played by submarine cables in international and national communications, and their contribution to the development of the information society and to the connection between different geographies ”, highlights João Cadete de Matos.

The issue consists of two stamps, with a circulation of 100,000 copies. The atelier responsible for the broadcast was Atelier Designs & etc and the illustrations are by João Machado. The first day's obliterations will be made at Restauradores stores in Lisbon, Municipality II in Porto, Zarco in Funchal and Antero de Quental in Ponta Delgada.