Free Knowledge Culture Calendar/August 13
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Die_Gartenlaube_%281857%29_b_477.jpg/220px-Die_Gartenlaube_%281857%29_b_477.jpg)
Today in 1858 the first test message exchange was completed on the first transatlantic submarine cable. Though enthusiastically celebrated, poor reception limited its capacity to around 6 words per hour, and rapid failure after just three weeks undermined confidence and delayed efforts to restore a connection.