Communication over the past 4 decades

Public phone booths pictured in the 1980s. In 1981, household telephones were introduced to China. But, due to the high call rates and the high cost of installation, most people still relied on payphones. [Photo/IC]

In 1983, China's first paging center opened in Shanghai and people started to use beepers. By 1990, they had become popular in Hohhot. [Photo/IC]