The first time signals

Shortly after the invention of the Marconi radio, in the late 19th century, the first radiotelegraph stations set up were broadcasting programmes that regularly contained time signals: the first radio time signals were sent by transmitters in Boston (1904), in Germany (1907) and at the Eiffel Tower in Paris (1910). Switzerland's first regular radio-transmitted time service dates back to 1926; it was provided by the Neuchâtel Observatory which would send its time signal by telegraphic cable to Radio-Genossenschaft in Bern for broadcasting by its transmitter. This time service was later resumed following the creation of national transmitters at Beromunster, Sottens and Monte-Ceneri.