16 THE BELL SYSTEM TECHXICAL JOURNAL, JANUARY 1957 



over-all system plan. This work, too, was accomplished by a series of 

 technical meetings held alternately in the United States and the United 

 Kingdom, with additional meetings in Canada. 



At the first of these meetings, a decision of far-reaching importance 

 was made. It was agreed that each technical problem would be solved 

 as it arose in so far as possible on the best engineering basis, putting aside 

 all considerations of national pride. Adherence to this principle did 

 much to forward the technical negotiations. 



The initial joint meeting was also responsible for establishing most 

 of the basic performance objectives of the system. The target date for 

 opening of service, December 1, 1956, had been settled even earlier and 

 was, in the event, bettered by nearly 10 weeks. 



Service Objectives 



A statement of the manner in which the system would be used and the 

 services to be provided was a necessary preliminary to establishing 

 performance objectives. 



It was agreed that the system should be designed as a connecting 

 link between the North American and European long distance networks. 

 As such it should be capable of connecting any telephone in North Amer- 

 ica (ordinarily reached through the Bell System or Canadian long dis- 

 tance networks) with any telephone in the British Isles or any telephone 

 normally reached from the British Isles through the European conti- 

 nental network. The system would be designed primarily for message 

 telephone service but consideration would be given to the provision of 

 other services such as VF carrier telegraph, program (music), and tele- 

 photograph as permitted by technical and contractual considerations. 

 It w^as also agreed that the two submarine cable links should be so 

 planned that it would be possible to utilize the full bandwidth in any 

 desired manner in the future. Thus, for example, repeater test signals 

 should be outside the main transmission band. 



All elements in the submarine cable systems were to be planned for 

 reliable service over a period of at least 20 years. 



Transmission Objectives 



The term "objective" was used advisedly in describing the aims of 

 the system. It w^as agreed that such objecti^'es were not ironclad reciuire- 

 ments but rather desirable goals which it was believed practical to attain 

 with the facilities proposed. Reasonable departure from these goals, how- 

 ever, would not be reason for major redesign. 



