NEW EXCHANGE IN SERVICE TOMORROW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 19, 12 November 1948, Page 5

NEW EXCHANGE IN SERVICE TOMORROW

Vast Improvement Is Anticipated After three months of intensive work engineers of the Post .and- Telegraph Department have .almost finished the new telephone exchange at Whakatane and a change-over from the old unit is to 'be .made tomorrow. Although an improvement in the service will result subscribers will not notice any immediate difference. The work of the operators however, will be made very much easier .and their connection to the required number will be done more quickly. Made in England, the new unit is a great improvement on the old one. Each operator has access to every subscriber in the exchange while each controls 150 lines. Called the multiple board it has space for 600 lines and is so constructed that one operator could look after the lot.

The old-fashioned Ericcson type of switchboard at present in use has -been unable, to handle the expanding service' in .Whakatane. ‘Grossly overloaded, it has had to be retained this long only because new equipment was not available. It has space for only 450 lines con--trolled by five operators, two of whom look after the toll channels as well as the ordinary numbers. In the new unit the tedious “waylining” system is done away with. -On the old exchange the operators • have access to certain numbers and if any subscriber requires one out of their control the operator has to put the call through to the one who has access to it before the number -can be connected. In future any operator may connect any call. Seven operators will be required for the new switchboard, three of whom will be in j;he toll section. In the Whakatane area there are '9OO subscribers who.have often complained about their telephone service. The new exchange will not only serve'present subscribers better, but will be capable of handling a considerably increased volume of work.