Stavanger Radio, whose planning began in 1912, was one of the largest radio facilities in the world. It was built to give Norway a direct connection with America (USA), which is why it was called the American Telegraph. The facility made Norway independent of the submarine cables controlled by the powers of the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Germany).
Construction began in 1913 with the transmitting station at Ullandhaug (today the NRK building) and the receiving station at Nærlund i Hå (today Nærlundsparken). The corresponding stations in the USA were located on the East Coast, between New York and Boston.
The station transmitted on long wave (approximately 20 kHz), which required a long, straight antenna that extended over Auglendshøyden. The antennas were supported by 10 masts 120 meters tall at Ullandhaugtårnet (at 70 meters), and most were anchored in 4 directions by 7 levels (end masts in 4 directions).
Due to the outbreak of the First World War, the facility only became operational in 1919. At the time, the spark gap transmitter technology was obsolete, but it was used until 1931 when communications were transferred to Jølbo at Moss.