These networks are an integral part of modern telecommunications, enabling communication between various devices and services over varying distances.
Radio networks have evolved significantly since their inception, with numerous types and technologies emerging to cater to diverse needs and applications.
There are different types of networks: In the 1950s, a small but growing cohort of rock and pop music fans, dissatisfied with the BBC's output, would listen to Radio Luxembourg – but only to some extent and probably not enough to have any impact on the BBC's monopoly; and invariably only at night, when the signal from Luxembourg could be received more easily.
During the post-1964 period, offshore radio broadcasting from ships at anchor or abandoned forts (such as Radio Caroline) helped to supply the demand in western Europe for pop and rock music.
Interest in old-time radio has increased in recent years with programs traded and collected on reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes and CDs and Internet downloads, as well as the popularity of podcasts.