Collecting, synthesizing and publishing telecommunications statistics has been a key part of ITU’s mandate throughout its history. When the second International Telegraph Conference (Vienna, 1868) decided to create a permanent central secretariat for the Union, it specified preparing and publishing telegraph statistics as a primary responsibility for the Bureau (International Telegraph Convention (Vienna, 1868) – Article 61).
The
ITU Historical Statistics (1849-1967) collection provides access to the three series of statistical reports published by the Union:
- telegraph [and telex] statistics (1849-1967),
- telephone statistics (1885-1967),
- radio statistics (1908-1967).
