INTRODUCTION

The defining moment in the history of radio was at 12.30pm on 12 December 1901 when the three dots of the Morse letter "S", transmitted from Poldhu in Cornwall, were received in St John's Newfoundland.

The technology involved was evolutionary - similar to that beginning to be used over modest distances already, albeit much more powerful. What was revolutionary, however, was the belief that radio would follow the curve of the earth over such great distances, and that it was worth spending considerable time, effort and money to demonstrate it. Guglielmo Marconi proved the doubters wrong.

Born and educated in Italy, Guglielmo Marconi spent most of his working life in Britain. He was attracted here because he found the British open to new ideas and able to provide the high quality of scientific and engineering support he needed. In that respect he was a social pioneer too - an early inward investor to the UK and an early international, as opposed to colonial, businessman.

100 years later, the growth of radio has been dramatic - almost unimaginable amounts of traffic flow through every part of the radio spectrum, from satellite communications to very short range devices. The regulation in the UK of Guglielmo Marconi's legacy rests with the Radiocommunications Agency; we are proud to be its custodians.

Our job is to ensure that the potential of the spectrum is fully realised and that all the different radio services can co-exist in an orderly way, both in the UK and overseas. It was Guglielmo Marconi who proved that radio was the international communications medium; the Agency and similar bodies around the world have taken up his challenge to make international communications work.

Radio is a fascinating medium. The amateur community keeps alive Guglielmo Marconi's experimental tradition and business sees radio as the life blood of enterprise and economic development. Whatever the use of radio, the Radiocommunications Agency is working to ensure that Guglielmo Marconi's legacy is exploited for the benefit of all.

David Hendon

Chief Executive, Radiocommunications Agency