Spanish Telephones

Spanish Telephone

The efficiency of the private-owned and operated American telephone system compared with the state-owned and controlled systems of Europe has often been remarked. Apparently, Spain has gotten tired of local bureaucrats, and wishes for service in the American fashion. The International Telephone & Telegraph Co., a U. S. concern, will shortly undertake through its subsidiary, the Compania Telefonica Nacional de Espafia, to construct and operate a general telephone system throughout Spain. The work will involve taking over the existing Government-owned system, as well as several private systems.

The Telefonica Nacional is a Spanish concern, run with Spanish capital. But control rests with I. T. & T., which will act as its technical and financial adviser. Spain is the first European country to abandon a state-owned system for International Telephone & Telegraph management. Yet negotiations are already under way for similar "deals" in France and Italy, and still other European countries may also fall into line.

On Jan. 1, 1923, Madrid, a city of 766,000 population, had only 15,483 phone stations; in all Spain, there were only 82,500. Obviously, I. T. & T. has a great field before it.