The 1970s marked a pivotal decade in Hong Kong’s telecommunications industry, one defined by rapid technological advancement and foundational infrastructure development. Building upon the city’s first manual telephone exchange established in 1877, this era witnessed the transformation of telephony from a limited exclusive service into a robust and far-reaching network that connected communities and powered economic growth.

The decade began with the widespread deployment of automatic telephone exchange systems, significantly improving service accessibility across the territory. Engineering teams overcame Hong Kong’s unique geographical challenges, including its mountainous terrain and densely populated urban areas, to install an extensive underground cable network. This infrastructure laid the groundwork for modern communications and became the backbone of the city’s evolving telecom system.

This period was distinguished by several landmark technological achievements. In 1971, the installation of satellite communication dishes introduced groundbreaking video transmission capabilities and enabled international conferencing, making a new era of global connectivity. Strategic submarine cable systems including SEACOM (1967) and the Hong Kong-Guangzhou link (1974) established vital international connections, while microwave transmission systems, such as Hong Kong-Macau link commissioned in 1975, extended reliable services to previously remote regions and outlying islands.

A particularly transformative milestone came in 1976 with the introduction of International Direct Dialing (IDD), which handled over two million calls in its first year alone. This innovation redefined global communication for Hong Kong residents and businesses. At the same time, planning commenced for next generation digital infrastructure set to emerge in the 1980s, including optical fibre systems and digital switching technologies.

These advancements were made possible by dedicated engineering teams who worked in challenging environments, from confined underground conduits to exposed mountain sites, to construct the essential infrastructure that would serve generations to come. Their efforts transformed telephone access from a luxury into a daily necessity, enabling families to stay connected, businesses to thrive, and Hong Kong to solidify as an international commercial hub.

The technological foundations established during this dynamic decade positioned Hong Kong as a regional leader in telecommunications and paved the way for future innovations in broadband and mobile communications. The legacy of engineering excellence and forward-thinking infrastructure development continues to influence global connectivity standards today.

Through these transformative advancements, Hong Kong's telecommunications network not only modernised local communications but also forged critical links that propelled the city toward its future as a world-class business and technology centre.

Hong Kong’s telephone industry was transformed in the 1970s