Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
Logo of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
Abbreviation	CTO
Formation	11 May 1948 (77 years ago) (1948-05-11)
Type	International organization
Purpose	Telecommunications
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Area served	Commonwealth of Nations
Membership	33 full state members
Secretary-General	Bernadette Lewis

A map showing the All Red Line telegraph system from 1902 or 1903

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international group that helps countries in the Commonwealth work together. It focuses on information and communication technology (ICT), which includes things like phones, the internet, and computers.

The CTO started from an older group called the Pacific Cable Board in 1901. However, the CTO as we know it today was officially created by a special agreement called the Commonwealth Telegraphs Agreement. This agreement was signed by Commonwealth nations in London on May 11, 1948.

How the CTO Started
Who are the CTO Members?
- Government Members
- ICT Sector Members
See Also

How the CTO Started

In 1901, a group called the Pacific Cable Board was formed. Its main job was to build and manage the "All Red Line". This was a huge project to connect all parts of the British Empire with telegraph cables. Imagine it as the internet of its time, allowing messages to travel quickly across the world.

As the British Empire changed and many countries became independent, a new plan was needed. The Commonwealth Telegraph Agreement was signed in London in 1948. This agreement created the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO). It replaced the old Pacific Cable Board and set up clear rules for how Commonwealth countries would share and manage communication systems.