The CTNE is 20 years old and leaves behind the aftermath of the Civil War. It is a time for innovation, for looking to the future and for protecting the people who make possible the increasingly popular miracle of communications every day.

CTNE celebrates 20 years looking towards a better future

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1944 marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of CTNE. The company - like the country as a whole - is trying to look forward five years after the end of the Civil War. And it does so by putting people first. This is the year in which we strengthened and improved the so-called Institución Telefónica de Previsión, a kind of mutual insurance company for employees, with the help of the company, to achieve better conditions for them and their families in the event of death, disability or retirement. The Institución Telefónica de Previsión would remain in force until 1992 as a collaborating entity of the Social Security. In the company's annual report at the end of 1944, the company considers the "deterioration due to the war" to be over and celebrates the progress of the business in Spain: the year ends with more than 400,000 stations in service and almost half a million telephone directories are printed.

Technological innovation at the Barcelona Exhibition Centre

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Barcelona was already the venue for major innovation shows, and, as is now the case with the Mobile World Congress, technology companies rushed to book the best stands to showcase their new products. On 10 June 1944, a new edition of the Trade Fair was inaugurated with the presence of the main municipal authorities, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Demetrio Carceller, and the blessing of Bishop Modrego. CTNE had a beautiful stand to showcase the latest developments, such as high-frequency carrier currents.

Learning lessons: the Passive Defence Plan

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In February 1944, CTNE's Engineering Department presented its Passive Defence Plan, a detailed action protocol to preserve the company's infrastructures, buildings and human and technical resources in the event of a new catastrophe. Divided into instructions in case of war, in case of Alarm or in case of Disaster, the Plan gives limited instructions on evacuation of personnel, reduction of lights and even what the first-aid kits should contain. A pioneering handbook on occupational safety and risk prevention.