1975 ONWARDS (continued)

Progress in electronics enabled the development of low power consumption, highly reliable microwave equipment by a number of manufacturers. This, together with the application of solar energy to provide primary power for loads up to 140 watts, facilitated new approaches to the design of Radio Relay Systems for the remoter areas of Australia. A. J. Mencel[67] has described the first such system in Australia installed between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek in 1980. It involved thirteen solar powered repeaters, housed in below ground shelters to ensure small ambient temperature variations without air-conditioning.

30 Solar powered Microwave Repeater Station and Tower, 16 Mile Creek, Northern Territory

A similar approach was taken to the engineering of microwave systems, both extending through the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and in the Kimberley Region of West Australia and on to Darwin. This latter section completed an around Australia broadband network, giving added resilience and diversity to the communication system. In the case of international communications, a burgeoning technology, increasingly influenced by digital and computer techniques, producing more and better quality communication channels at reducing real cost, remained a strong driving force. At the same time, market considerations began to impact in a much greater way on investment decisions and on the timing of new and improved services. Growth in telephony dominated throughout the decade but increasingly significant numbers of calls made over the telephone service carried non-voice traffic, such as facsimile or low speed data. Specialised data services were also introduced and TV relaying became an everyday occurrence, with events around the world brought live to homes throughout Australia, while important Australian happenings could also be viewed in other countries. Telex remained an important service but at lower growth rates and on the other hand, the original telecommunications service, telegrams, continued its decline, a casualty of the new technologies and services.

31 Australian Broadband Network, 1986

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering