• greem@cyberplace.social
    1·
    3 days ago

    @mattblaze@federate.social Before BT (in the UK) went to fibre, they had a wide variety of towers for MW backbone/trunk data/voice comms. Many were utilitarian extended metal tetrahedra or trihedra, but some were quite unique - perhaps the most obvious being the former Post Office Tower in London.

    Many of them are now shadow of their former selves, with very few antennae attached.

    • Matt Blaze@federate.socialOP
      1·
      3 days ago

      @greem@cyberplace.social I was sad when they removed the antennas from the Post Office Tower (which I understand is being refurbished into a hotel).

      • greem@cyberplace.social
        1·
        3 days ago

        @mattblaze@federate.social Apparently so.

        It’s a difficult building to get rid of, because the foundation for the tower itself are intertwined with the former telephone exchange beneath it - which is now an incredibly important fibre interchange point.

        I was lucky enough to go up there in 2004 (or 2005) for a presentation lunch from Cisco. It’s fascinating inside.