Anglo-Canadian transatlantic telephone cable (CANTAT). Laying the North Atlantic link

CANTAT was the third telephone system to be laid across the Atlantic, but it was of a very different type from its predecessors and was unique in many ways. It was the first system to use the new Lightweight cable. A new equalization technique had to be introduced whereby system transmission misalignments encountered during the lay were corrected by suitable networks built and housed on the ship, without stopping the laying operation. Every effort was made to anticipate all possible eventualities, since the laying of any long ocean system is hazardous. The complete laying operation was spread over seven months, and although many incidents occurred none was abnormal, and no weaknesses were apparent in the equipment or the techniques.