Connected Earth Project

What is Connected Earth?

Since the BT Museum at Blackfriars closed in 1997, BT had been looking for an innovative and cost effective solution to secure the future of its extensive telecom collections, and at the same time making sure that the maximum number of people could enjoy them. After a lengthy period of consultation and research, BT came up with a model solution; one which works for BT and possibly for others holding large collections which are based on our industrial heritage. The development of telecommunications and interest in the subject is so fundamental to the modern world that its history is worthy of being shared not just locally in small isolated museums, but internationally and with the latest innovations, the opportunity to give access worldwide is possible via the Internet. With these aims in mind, BT created the Connected Earth project in July 2001 and began developing the concept of 'Partner Museums' and the 'Museum on the Internet'. Very simply, Connected earth is the driving force behind a innovative model of real collections housed in 'Partner Museums' and virtual collections displayed in the 'Museum on the Internet'.

How does the Model work?

The model combines the very best of the old with todays technology to give a unique viewing experience. Resources have been drawn from BT Group Archives, TCN - The Communications Network (formerly the Institution of British Telecom Engineers), established collections, such as those at Goonhilly and a collaboration of 'Partner Museums'. BT's extensive collection of telecoms artefacts has been distributed to Partner Museums across the UK to share and bring to life telecoms history which otherwise may have remained buried in more numerous museums and storage spaces where inadequate funding and poor access prevented their full enjoyment. Critics of the process may have sighted this as a cost cutting way to preserve BT's heritage, but the alternative was a policy of collecting and preserving thousands upon thousands of items and never having the opportunity to adequately display them to maximum effect.