What is Telex? Understanding the History and Decline of Telex Networks

TELEX (Telex Network) is a type of telecommunications network that uses dedicated circuits to transmit data between computers and other devices. It was developed in the 1960s and became widely used in the 1970s and 1980s for sending urgent messages, such as news stories and financial transactions, over long distances.

TELEX worked by using a network of specialized terminals and communication centers to transmit data over dedicated circuits. These circuits were typically leased from telephone companies and were used exclusively for TELEX traffic. The data was transmitted in a serial format, with each character being sent one at a time over the circuit.

One of the key features of TELEX was its ability to provide fast and reliable transmission of urgent messages. Because it used dedicated circuits, TELEX was able to bypass the congestion and delays that were common on public telephone networks at the time. This made it an attractive option for businesses and organizations that needed to send important messages quickly and accurately.

TELEX was widely used in the financial industry, where it was used to transmit stock prices, trade confirmations, and other financial information. It was also used by news organizations to transmit stories and other urgent messages between bureaus and headquarters.

However, with the advent of newer technologies such as email and the internet, TELEX usage has declined significantly. Today, it is largely a relic of the past, although some legacy systems still use TELEX for specific purposes.