On This Day in Telephone History On Christmas Day, December 25TH 1900, the first international telephone call over telegraph cable occurred from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba. From his office, John W. Atkins the manager at International Ocean Telegraph Company (a subsidiary of Western Union Telegraph Company), made the historic telephone call over telegraph cable at 9:55am. Atkins was reported as saying, "For a long time there was no sound, except the roar heard at night sometimes, caused by electric light current." He continued calling Cuba and finally came back the words, clear and distinct: "I don't understand you”.

On This Day in Telephone History On Christmas Day, December 25TH 1900

by
On This Day in Telephone History On Christmas Day, December 25TH 1900
The First International Telephone Call

Over telegraph cable from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba, from his office, John W. Atkins the manager at International Ocean Telegraph Company (a subsidiary of Western Union Telegraph Company), made the historic telephone call over telegraph cable at 9:55am. Atkins was reported as saying, “For a long time there was no sound, except the roar heard at night sometimes, caused by electric light current.” He continued calling Cuba and finally came back the words, clear and distinct: “I don’t understand you”.