History of Telephone Monument Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh, capital and the largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia have a lot of historical sites.  among many of those sites, there is one site that people don't really know that people should know the history of it. It is called Telephone Monument. Located at Jalan Teuku Umar right in front of the gas station and near putroe Phang.  

This building was the first telephone office in Aceh and Indonesia which build by Netherlands colonial in 1903 (known from the written year on the top of the building). This means this building made during the Sultan Muhammad Daudsyah period. On this era, people still use telegraph for long distance communication, Until Alexander Graham Bell discover telephone that really helps Netherland's Government

Netherland builds this building because Netherland needs to make a communication to other regions that have been colonized by Netherland itself so they can have more information about the latest news. Furthermore, this building used by Netherland's Government to invade Koetaradja easily. Even though in the end this building not used because governor sometimes pulls out the cable because it often got news of an attack from Aceh's fighters. After that, Netherland's give up to try to colonize Aceh and Japan is come to Indonesia, but this telephone still used by Aceh on that time.

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This telephone network penetrate to a lot of cities, like Ulee Lheu, Sabang, Lamno, Meulaboh, Seulimum, Sigli, Bireun, Takengon, Lhokseumawe, Lhoksukon, Idi, Peurlak, Kuala Simpang even up to some cities on west Sumatra likeMedan, Tanjung Pura, Rantau Prapat, Berastagi and Asahan(wow).

After independence, this building used by a lot of organization in Aceh. This building once used as a telephone office by KODAM I Iskandar Muda, KONI (Komite Olahraga Nasional Indonesia), and used as the editorial office of Atjeh Post, also used as PSSI Aceh office. But now this building only as a historical site and tourist attraction.