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Unit 8 The Development of Paging System Text and translation The Development of Paging System(1) Any communication system which can provide customers with means to communicate from any place, at any time and at any distance gives social and economic advantages（2）. This capability does not exist in many parts of the world. Assuming that it existed, such a system would be limited by the availability of the called person. This person may not be close to his telephone when he/she is called. Urgent communications (police, firemen, hospitals, etc.) which could not be established because of no reply at one end of the link could have dramatic consequences if the delay in response is too long or if the call remain unanswered (3) . It is therefore essential to provide the person with means to communicate. The operation of a communication network needs, for this reason, to be complemented by a messaging system (one-way or two-way) which can offer either an additional facility in the case of a sophisticated network or a primary communication means when the wired and mobile telephone network are embryonic and do not cover a whole territory(4). Paging solutions to the above communication situations were introduced in the first half of this century by means of simple optical and acoustical signaling devices installed on the premises of enterprises, hospitals, offices, etc(5). The operator of a local telephone switchboard had an option to transmit an optical or acoustical signal for the searched person over a wired network. Such a signal meant that the person concerned had to call the switchboard operator immediately for instructions from the closest telephone(6). Installations of this kind were quite common and were appreciated for their cost efficiency in particular when installed in a restricted area. Thus was born a new, but perpetually developing paging service defined as a one-way selective signaling system without speech and designed as an extension of the telephone networ