Manx Telecom has opened a new exhibition at the Manx Museum charting more than 135 years of telecommunications on the Isle of Man, and the islanders who built it. Powered by People is open now in the Museum's Cabinet of Curiosities, runs until September, and is free to visit as part of general museum admission.
The exhibition traces how an island in the middle of the Irish Sea has stayed connected to the world, from a single telephone exchange on Athol Street to full fibre broadband and 30 years of mobile coverage. It brings together artefacts and archival photography spanning more than a century of Manx telecommunications.
The story begins with one licence, one exchange and a handful of customers. By 1901 there were 600 subscribers on the island. In 1996 the Isle of Man got its first mobile network, and five years later Manx Telecom became the first operator in Europe to launch a live 3G network. Powered by People sets those milestones alongside the people behind them, the engineers, operators and staff who kept the island connected across the generations.
Gary Lamb, CEO of Manx Telecom, said: "We're proud of our history, but mostly we're proud of the people who made it, the around 400 islanders who make Manx Telecom what it is today, and the generations before them. This is our story, but it's the island's story too. It belongs to everyone who has ever picked up a phone, got online or sent a message from somewhere on this island. We'd love people to come and see it."
Katie King, Curator for Art and Social History at Manx National Heritage, said: "We are delighted to have been able to share items from the Manx National Heritage collections as part of this exhibition, helping to tell the story of telecommunications on the Isle of Man through objects that have been carefully preserved for future generations.
“Among the highlights are two objects connected to George Gilmour, one of the pioneers of telephone communication on the Island, whose work played an important role in bringing this transformative technology to the Manx community. These collections allow us to connect today's audiences with the people and innovations that helped shape the Island's history.”
The exhibition is launched by Manx Telecom as part of Manx National Heritage’s You Exibit programmme and helps tell the story of telecommunications on the Isle of Man. Powered by People is open now at the Manx Museum and runs until September. The exhibition is free to attend with donations welcome.
