Telegraphy

Telegraphy is the transmission of coded messages over wire.

History
Telegraphy was first invented in Pierrebourg, Griffonstone, where an early telegraph network started to appear serving as an alternative to the earlier heliographs.

The first transoceanic and transnational telegraph was built between Pierrebourg and Baltimare. It had a low throughput of about a symbol per minute, but it enabled faster communication than by boat. Early wires were improved on, more recently enabling a throughput of 500 symbols per minute even in transoceanic communications.

The Crystal Empire followed up by developing their own network, which was soon connected to the developing network in Equestria and therefore to Griffonstone's as well.

As Equestria made efforts to connect their colonies and provinces to the mainland, the telegraph network exploded across Equus, reaching all major landmasses. Territories neighboring Equestria's colonies connected to Equestria's telegraph network, soon creating a network which spanned every country.

Early issues
When the telegraph was first brought to Equestria, significant interference was found in the communications, which was found to be caused by induction of electrical currents by Unicorn operators. Early telegraphs had to be insulated to allow for easy operation by magic-wielding creatures.

Further adaptations were made as the first telegraphs were built to be operated with claws, requiring wider tappers for their operation with hooves.

Telephony
Telephony was invented as a way of using existing telegraph infrastructure to send sound over wire.

While it doesn't require translating the message into code like the telegraph, sound quality is poor and greatly affected by distance and the regular telegraph is preferred for clarity, specially in long-distance communication.