It peaked at number 19 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1981, along with "Modern Love Is Automatic".

[4] The uptempo beat featuring power chords and heavy synth, along with the futuristic lyrics, has enabled the song to reach cult status.

The first line mentions "ultraviolet..radio light..to your solar system..." indicating someone or something is attempting to communicate across the galaxy.

Upon its release, Paul Colbert of Melody Maker praised "Telecommunication" as a "superb single" that "ow[es] a lot of its wing power to Bill Nelson's hand at the helm".

He added, "It's more of a picture than a record – you can see the whole song developing under your eyes until it trashes the canvas and rips it up in your face, so you put it on again.