Cable & Wireless 

for over 130 years has been providing countries throughout the world with their national and international telecoms networks.

The early years of Falkland Islands communications tell of hardship and struggle. Correspondence from West Falklands to Stanley could take up to three months as it was carried by horseback and sailing vessels.

The first telephones were installed by the Falkland Islands Company in 1880 by Mr Boyson, the manager at the time. The Falkland Islands Government were slow to see the advantages of telephones and it was not until February 1897 that a telephone was installed at Cape Pembroke Lighthouse and connected to the Police Station to improve the response time to rescue vessels damaged whilst rounding Cape Horn.

By 1907 telephone lines were being erected to all the main settlements outside of Stanley, telephones were also installed at this time into business buildings and Government Departments. The Falkland Islands Police were responsible for the installation and maintenance of the lines until 1927. In 1911, Marconi built a 5 kilowatt wireless telegraphy station, allowing telegrams to be sent to Montevideo in Uruguay.

The biggest communication change for the "Camp" (the name given to the area outside of Stanley's boundaries) occurred in 1950, when the telephone was replaced by radio telephone (although the camp telephone network remained in operation until 1982). All business, medical problems and education correspondence were communicated over radio telephone.

In October 1974, Cable & Wireless became responsible for the colony's external telecommunications. Direct calls could be booked to the UK and South American mainland. After the 1982 conflict, the MOD and Cable & Wireless erected an earth station to the east side of what is now the main Cable & Wireless car park. This station allowed for the first time direct dialling through Autelca card phones hosted by Cable & Wireless. In 1989, Cable & Wireless won the contract to provide domestic as well as an international telephone service for the Falkland Islands.

Communication on the Islands has changed significantly since then, with Cable and Wireless South Atlantic Ltd. providing national, international and mobile telephone service and internet service. In 2006 Broadband was successfully implemented in Stanley and Mount Pleasant Complex, with 2008 / 09 seeing the service rolled out across the Islands.

High quality satellite links provide a clear and fast connection with the rest of the World. Roaming facilities are also available on a number of mobile networks, which enable calls and text messaging between agreed networks across the world.

Cable & Wireless continued to invest in the network infrastructure on the Falkland Islands and the international links, enabling a robust and high quality communications services for both residential and business customers. During 2008 – 09 Cable & Wireless invested 1.5 million pounds in developing a new Camp network which is able to provide broadband services to anywhere on the Islands, including remote islands.

In late 2011 the mobile network was vastly extended around the Islands, increasing coverage to include large parts of Camp including Fox Bay and Port Howard on West Falklands. August 2012 saw the mobile network data enabled offering customers the ability to send and receive picture and video messages and access the internet on their mobile phones for the first time.  

In April 2013, the Batelco Group acquired the majority of Cable & Wireless Monaco and Islands. 

Cable & Wireless has two shops: Ross Road West, Stanley, which is open Monday to Friday 8am until 4.30pm and FIC shopping Complex at Mount Pleasant Complex, open Thursdays 9.30am until 2.00pm. Both shops offer a full range of telecommunication equipment, along with IT products such as laptops, iPads, SD cards, external hard drives and hands free car kits. A wide range of mobile phones and accessories are available.

Phonecards for use in call boxes and mobile top up cards can be purchased at both C&W shops and at many other retail outlets in Stanley and Mount Pleasant Complex. Only Cable &Wireless Falkland Islands pre-paid phonecards can be used in the call boxes situated throughout Stanley and at Mount Pleasant Complex.

Wi-Fi hotspots are available at a number of locations, including Malvina House Hotel, Shorty’s Hotel and Diner, Chamber of Commerce area, Lighthouse Seamen’s Centre, Jacs Cafe, Mount Pleasant Airport Terminal and Cable & Wireless shops.

The Falkland Islands lie about 400 miles east of South America and 8,000 miles south of the UK. The Islands consist of two main Islands, East and West Falklands plus approximately 200 outlying Islands. The East Island is where Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, is situated. Approximately 2,500 people live in Stanley and 200 in Camp. The climate is cool, with a prevailing strong westerly wind, days are often very bright and rain fall is relatively low. The terrain is mainly low lying, with white grass and diddle dee coverage.

The Islands have a wonderful wildlife population of penguins, seals, sea lions and albatross. There are white sandy beaches which, despite the cool winds, bring a tropical feel to the Islands.