The British JERC development of electronic switching

The telephone service in the United Kingdom is operated by the General Post Office and supplied with equipment by a number of manufacturing companies. In general the industry manufactures to specifications issued by the Post Office. In this way a multiplicity of types of apparatus is avoided despite the existence of a number of independent manufacturing concerns offering similar products. In particular, a joint Post Office and industry organization, the British Telephone Technical Development Committee (BTTDC) is responsible for the development and standardization of exchange switching equipment, not only of its technical performance but also very often of its mechanical and electrical design and construction.