My Experiences in Telecom

I have had experience in the Telecom sector from January, 1964 to end of October, 2001.

In fact the dates are surprisingly clearly etched in my mind : 07-01-1964 to 31-10-2001!

On selection as ‘Engineering Supervisor’ in the Telecom department, then we were sent for a full year’s training consisting of ten months theoretical training at Trivandrum and two months field training at Bangalore (Jan 1963 to Jan 1964)

My first posting was at Hubli in Karnataka state. I was given the responsibility of maintaining overhead trunk lines between Hubli and Karwar ( a coastal town), Haveri-Sirsi, and Sirsi-Sidhapur (near Shimoga).

There were two manual telephone exchanges of 100 lines capacity at Karwar and Sirsi. (CB non-multiple exchanges, a Departmental Telegraph Office at Karwar and two small automatic exchanges at Akkiyalur and Hanagal and two magneto boards ( 10 lines capacity at Kalghatgi and Yellapur) quite a handful for a lad all of 23 years, bursting with energy.

Maintaining Hubli Karwar section of overhead lines (OH) was quite a challenge, with the lines running through dense bamboo forests, blinding rains for 3 months from May to July. Rail posts for supporting lines were getting corroded at the bottom and the wires were actually supporting the post instead of the other way around.

Thought honest, hard-working and ever-ready to face new challenges, my cheekiness did pose uneasy moments for my immediate Bosses!

More on this later…..!

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