Swiss Embassy Radio operated a global shortwave radio network on behalf of the Federal Council to ensure communication between selected Swiss embassies and the government in Bern, independent of public communications systems. At its peak, up to 70 embassies were equipped with this shortwave system. On September 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks in New York, Bern was able to maintain contact with the embassy in Washington via this independent system even though all public and satellite communications had failed.
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