# Canonical recap data for Telephone Exchange Opens in New Haven (1878)
# Source: https://recap.at/1878/first-telephone-exchange
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: first-telephone-exchange
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1878/first-telephone-exchange"
title: Telephone Exchange Opens in New Haven
subtitle: The world's first commercial telephone exchange launched automated switching technology and modern telecommunications infrastructure.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1878-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1878
decade: 1870
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: A telephone exchange, telephone switch, or central office is a central component of a telecommunications system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or in large enterprises. It facilitates the establishment of communication circuits, enabling telephone calls between subscribers. The term "central office" can
summaryLong: A telephone exchange, telephone switch, or central office is a central component of a telecommunications system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or in large enterprises. It facilitates the establishment of communication circuits, enabling telephone calls between subscribers. The term "central office" can also refer to a central location for fiber optic equipment for a fiber internet provider.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/BDUK_Broadband_%2814626513882%29.jpg/1280px-BDUK_Broadband_%2814626513882%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: btphotosbduk · via Wikipedia
importance: 80
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange"
  title: Telephone exchange
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: "A telephone exchange, telephone switch, or central office is a central component of a telecommunications system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) "
wikidataQid: Q256132
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260625063656/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange"
  capturedAt: 2026-06-25
  label: Telephone exchange
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange"
