The advent of telephony in 1875 and its subsequent rapid expansion prompted the second administrative conference held in 1885, to consider regulations for telephony. An article consisting of 5 general paragraphs devoted to the “international telephone service” was added to the Telegraph Regulations. A time-unit of 5 minutes was fixed as a unit of charge, and the total length of one conversation was limited to 10 minutes if there were other requests for the use of the telephone line.

Concerning telegraphy, a new tariff system was established which divided the world into two parts, the European regime and the Extra-European regime. Uniform terminal and transit rates were established for the European regime.