This item is a brief survey of the company's development from the 1860s up to to early 21st century. The first successful international telegraph cable was laid in 1851, linking London and Paris via a submarine cable. This short history covers the company's development from the provision of international communications in the 19th century to the digital networks of the 21st century. Illustrations include: the Great Eastern laying the Atlantic telegraph cable in 1866; maps showing the company's cable routes in the 1920s; and a map showing Cable & Wireless locations in 1947.