Evolution of telephone, telegraph and telex traffic

Long-range planning of the telecommunication network depends vitally on the ability to foresee the evolution of different forms of traffic in the next 10 or 20 years. Phenomena influencing traffic growth, and available traffic statistics are briefly considered. Evolution of telephone, telegraph and telex traffic on the internal, international and intercontinental routes for the past 10 years is shown for several countries. Using an extrapolation method future growth rates for the above types and areas of traffic are established. The growth of telephone and telex traffic follows an exponential law with no indication of a beginning of saturation. Average growth rates are between 6 and 17% for telephone traffic, and between 11 and 35% for telex traffic. Telegraph traffic is generally declining, or is stationary except for countries in a period of great expansion or having underdeveloped telecommunications.