The Impact of Telecommunication on Global Shipping before 1914

di Lars U. Scholl
in Memoria e Ricerca n.s. 5 (2000), p. 79

The influence the telegraph had on trades needs to be attentively analysed. The possibility of broadcasting up to date price-lists and other business information enormously conditioned the sea trades. Once the effective exploitation of radio communication was achieved, both the mercantile marine and the navy benefited by it, allowing the shipping companies to keep in touch with their own ships on the high seas and facilitating port manoeuvres. Once the Marconi, the Telefunken and other companies were able to merchandise radiotelegraphy their objectives and main beneficiaries were shipping companies, port authorities, shipping agents and insurance companies. Advantages were gained both in the economical sphere and in the improvement of safety as well.