BT is to end satellite operations at the famous
Goonhilly site in Cornwall, which received the first satellite TV
broadcasts from the USA in 1962 via Telstar.
It is believed that up to 90 of the 120 staff at Goonhilly could
lose their jobs as BT scales down its satellite operations and
moves satellite work to its Madley site in Herefordshire.
The BBC reports that under the proposed BT plan, only one of
Goonhilly’s 61 satellite dishes would remain.
This would be the dish known as “Arthur”, the same one used for
the first 1962 US broadcasts. The dish is protected after receiving
Grade II listed building status.
Although the dishes will be decommissioned, sub-sea cable
operations would continue at the 160-acre site, which is located on
the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall.
The cables handle millions of phone calls every week.
BT plans to end satellite operations at Goonhilly in 2008.
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