PRODUCTION OF HIGH CAPACITY CABLE AND MICRO-WAVE SYSTEMS IN THE USSR AND EASTERN EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001900010209-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2006
• Sequence Number: 209
• Publication Date: March 11, 1974
• Content Type: MF

 253(1
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Rauer H. Meyer
Director
Office of Export Control
Bureau of East-West Trade
Department of Commerce
SUBJECT Production of High Capacity Cable and Micro-
wave Systems in the USSP, and Eastern Europe
Attached is a short discussion of the status of development
and production of microwave radio-relay and cable communications
systems in the USSR and Eastern Europe. It has been prepared to
supplement the discussion in the draft report of the Telecom-
munications Equipment Technical Advisory Committee -- Foreign
Availability of Analog Communications_ Transmission Eauipment. A
Table summarizing available data also is attached. It is hoped
that our findings, which are somewhat at variance with those in
the Committee report, will be helpful to the Committee in the
preparation of its final report.
5X1 Please do not hesitate to call if we can be of any further
assistance.
Mac i ch
USSP/Eastern Europe Division
Office of Economic Research
t tachr,:eri t
is stated
Distribution:
Orig and 1 - Addressee (S-c""972)
1 - D/O
1 - SA/ER
1 - St/CS
1 - St/P
1 - Chief, D/U
2 - U/ _C
O3R/U/:?:C:
(1 P;Iar.7?4)
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Attachment
CO~1) IOLi~~ T 1AL
1. The USSR, East Germany, and Hungary are the only countries
with major programs for the development and production of high
capacity multiplex equipment. East Germany and Hungary carry
out this activity, sometimes reluctantly, under ,a CED1A charge to
produce for the USSR and other East European markets. However,
research and development is carried out jointly with the USSR
and most of their' output of civil communications systems that is
not used domestically. is exported to the USSR.
2. East Germany, Hungary, and the USSR are not major sup-
pliers of high-capacity communications systems to.the other East
European countries -- namely, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria,
and Rumania -- for two reasons: output is limited and the USSR
is the priority consumer; and these countries prefer Western
equipment becaus3 of its superior quality, reliability, and capa-
bility. For example, Bulgaria has modernized much of its civil
network by direct imports from Western Europe.
3. During the past 15 years or so, the USSR, East Germany,
and Hungary, have developed, produced, and deployed radio-relay
and cable systems with designed capacities of 600, 960, and 1920
channels per trunk. However, these systems, in actuality, op-
erate at only a fraction of designed capacity because none of
these countries has been able to produce the carrier (multiplex)
equipment needed for optimum system utilization. During most
of the 1960's, these systems were multiplexed with 60-channel
equipment. In recent years', 120-channel multiplexers have come
into limited use, but the deployment of 600-channel and higher
multiplex equipment is practically non-existent. These facts
are astonishing. In the United States, the first commercial
coaxial cable system -- the Bell System's L-1 which was installed
in 1941 -- carried 480 voice channels over 2 tubes, or 240
channels per tube. Cut off from access to Western technology by
virtue of the intE.rnational embargo, Communist producers his-
torically have been unable to develop the component technology
(especially high quality filters) needed to combine 60-channel
super-groups into higher aggregations.
CONFIDENTIAL
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4. Since 1968, Communist capabilities to produce high-
capacity carrier systems have improved owing to carrier man-
ufacturing technology received by Hungary from L.M. Ericsson
of Sweden. Although the full scope of that assistance has
never been determined, it may be assumed that Hungary either
can, or soon will be able, to produce carrier systems of up
to 600 channels, and possibly 960 channels. It is not evident
that such systems are yet in production. We have information
that Hungary recently contracted to supply the USSR with 300-
channel radio-relay systems that were apparently developed on
the basis of Sweden's technology. Iri this case, also, it is
not certain that 300-channel multii'lexers are included, since,
reportedly, the systems are to be used in the. USSR to carry TV
broadcasts.
5. High-capacity 1920-channel cable systems have been
produced in the USSR for several years but without the associ-
ated multiplexing equipment; they have been used mainly for
TV transmissions. Cable systems for 1920 channels also are
under development in East Germany and Hungary. There is no
evidence that these sy tems are in seria.. production. One
such system, the VLT-1920, is under development in East Germany.
The fact that a prototype of this system was exhibited at the
1973 Hanover Fair, and its operation described in an official
brochure, has been taken as evidence of the capability of East
Germany to produce these systems. It should be pointed out,
however, that the demonstration of a prototype and the publica-
tion of a brochure certify only the existence of a prototype
and of a brochure, and no meaningful inference concerning produc-
tion can be drawn. For example, East Germany announced develop-
ment of its RVG-962 microwave system (also called the R-300 in
the USSR) and published a technical brochure on its operation,
nearly 3 years ago. Yet the system still has not gone into serial
production. Hungary's GTT 6000/1920 microwave system is another
example. Development of this system began in the early 1960's
and prototype tests were scheduled for 1966. Testing did not
actually begin until 1969 and a report in May 1973 indicated
that the system was still under development and had not entered
production. Despite this, in 1971 the Hungarians published a
brochure stating that the GTT 6000/1920 was in production.
CONFIDENTIAL
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6. It must be concluded, on the basis of all the informa-
tion available, that high-capacity multiplexing systems (600,
960, and 1920-channels) of domestic-manufacture are virtually
non-existent in Communist countries. And Soviet access to
higher capacity systems from non-Communist, non-COCOM sources
would appear to be severely limited. For example, it has been
alleged that multiplexing equipment for 2700 channels and
10,800 channels is available from L.M. Ericsson of Sweden, and
from Spain. However, L.M. Ericsson's 2700-channel system uses
US components that are on the Commodity Control List (unilaterally
controlled by the US); and the 10,800-channel system uses re-
peater equipment manufactured in West Germany. Hence, the ex-
port of these. systems effectively is controlled by the US and
COCOM respectively. Apparently, L.M. Ericsson does not con-
sider the Communist market important enough to justify pro-
ducing the embargoed components on its own in order to circum-
vent US and COCOM controls.* Similarly, the two potential sup-
pliers of 2700 channel'multiplex equipment in Spain -- Standard
Electrica, S.A., and Telettra Espanola, S.A., are subsidi-
aries or affiliates of companies located in COCOM member countries.
Thus, their exports to Communist countries are subject to con-
trol.
7. Finally, the strategic importance of high-capacity common-
carrier (multi-purpose, multi-user) communications systems should
be clarified. The TAC report implies that if US-made systems are
applied to a civilian end-use, there would be no strategic risk.
However, the fact is that in the USSR and Eastern Europe, the
military forces extensively use the cable and microwave systems
of the civil ministries of communications for mainline, strategic
circuits,** in addition to separate military systems for command
and control. Moreover, many circuits are dedicated for exclusive-
ly military use. Hence, the reliability and capabilities of mili-
tary communications in Communist countries would be enhanced by
the installation of modern Western equipment on common carrier
circuits.
** This is common practice in the West also. For example, the
military establishment relies on the Bell System for the re-
quired domestic switching, transmission trunks, and access lines.
(Military Communications - 1968. Hearings before House Sub-
committee or Government Operations, 90th Congress, 17-18 June 1968,
pp. 10-17.)
CONFIDENTIAL
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Voice-Channel Capacity
Country
system ,
Design
East Germany
RVG-958
600
RVG-960
960
RVG-962
300
VLT-1920*
1920
Hungary
GTT 4000/600
600
GTT 6000/1920
1920
GTT 8000/300
300
b/ That is, reported, or otherwise. known.
Actual /
Frequency
Production
Comments
60-120
4 GHz
Discontinued
Developed and deployed in the 1950's.
60-120
4 GHz
Yes. No data.
Deployment may be imminent.
--
11 GHz
No.
Still under development.
--
8.6 MHz
No.
Apparently development has reached
initial test stage. A test link re-
portedly has been set up.
60-120
4 GHz
Yes. In produc-
Most sets produced have been export
tion since early
ed to the USSR.
1960'x.
--
6 GHz
No.
Under development since early 1960's.
Joint development with USSR. In USSR
system is called "Druzhba". A proto-
type was first tested in 1969, and a
test link for TV is currently under
construction in the USSR.
Possibly 300 c/ 8 GHz Possibly. May be Under development mainly for export
approaching stage to the USSR (under nomenclature
of limited pro- R-300).
duction.
 Microwave and Cable Ap ee' pcRed"Sen28,W09/ESstahAe5A8 Ti08&75M01900010209-6
Voice-Channel Capacity
Country
System ,
Design
Acutal
Frequency
Production
R-60/120
60-120
60-120"
1.6-2.0 GHz
Yes. Early 1960's.
60-120
3.4-3.9 GHz
Probably phasing
out.
Yes. Early 1960's.
R-600M e/
600-
3.4-3.9 GHz.
Probably phasing
out.
No.
R-600M and R-600 2M appear to have
R-6002M W
1020
3.4-3.9 GHz
No.
been built in prototype only.
R-6002MV , ?
1020
Very few systems have been noted.
Voskhod
1920
K-1920?
1920
Unknown-
273-8544 KHz
Yes. In produc-
Said to be of poor 3uali,y (1969)
tion since the
early 1960's.
and in need of modernization.
Development, based on long life
(::0,000 hrs.) tubes, completed in
1969. Change to transistoro slow.
For example, only the tertiary con-
verter and oscillator of the terminal
equipment had transistors as of 1970.
Experimental models said to have
passed line tests in 1572. Produc-
tion claimed to have begun in 1973.
Most are used mainly to pass television.
capability.
Modifications to the basic system.
Used mostly to pass television.-There 'is
Frequently equipped for'only'60 voice channels. Often, there is no multiplexing
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 Microwave and CableAQ}~CdWed lipROI sBe GAOB(~stQA-RWpOUPO i7` AP1900010209-6
Voice-Channel Capacity
Country
System J
Design
Actual b/
Frequency
Production-
USSR (Cont.)
K-60 g/
60
60
60-252 KHz
Yes. 1960-61
K-120
120
--
60-552 KHz
No.
812-1304 KHz
K-300?
300
--
60-1300 KHz
No.
into serial production.
Comments
Development "completed" in 1969 but
still under tests. Problems getting
into serial production.
Development "completed" in 1969 but
still under tests. Problems getting
g/ Believed used for both cable and.radio-relay.