ABSTRACT
The telephone system is the largest integrated system in the world. Individual subscribers, separated by half the globe, can, in many cases automatically, make contact using this system. There is very rapid progress towards a complete direct-dialling international network, and it now seems very likely that the development of microcircuits, telecommunications satellites and new transmission media will allow a telephone link to be established to an individual in the remotest part of the earth via his own radio transceiver, identified by his unique world telephone number and accessed via satellite.
