The First Wireless Telegraph Station of the Ottoman Empire

The first wireless telegraph station of the Ottoman Empire in Patara was officially inaugurated on August 31, 1906, the 30th anniversary of Sultan Abdülhamid II’s accession to the throne. Built by the German Siemens & Halske Company, the station was equipped with the most advanced technology of the period and was developed to communicate with the Ottoman Empire's territories in North Africa. This comprehensive project stands out as an important indicator of the Ottoman Empire’s modernization efforts and vision in the field of communication.

The station provided communication between the Port of Patara and the Port of Derne in Ottoman-ruled Libya, a distance of approximately 850 kilometers. This line was recognized as one of the longest distance wireless telegraph networks in Europe. In 1911, during the Tripoli War, the station was bombed by the Italian army and became unusable, and is an important cultural and historical heritage transferred from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Türkiye.

Today, restoration work continues at the Patara Wireless Telegraph Station with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Western Mediterranean Development Agency. In this context, parts of the complex such as staff quarters, warehouse structures, cistern and machinery building are being restored. Upon completion of the restoration, the station will be opened as a museum, providing visitors with valuable information about the Ottoman communication technology and the communication methods of the period.

Patara Wireless Telegraph Station is of great importance as one of the first and most important relics of our more than a century of wireless history. This historical structure has the potential to be a unique resource for both researchers who want to trace technological developments and history enthusiasts.