The first historical certification of a state telecommunications structure in Romania dates back to over a century ago, when in 1889 the first five-subscriber manual switchboard being set up in Bucharest, for the Parliament and the Ministries. In the same period a four-subscriber automated telephone switchboard belonging to the Royal House was also put into operation. It is worth noting that from the very beginning of a special telecommunications service operating for the benefit of the country leadership, security issues needed to be addressed. Therefore, due to strategy reasons, these services have been part of the Ministry of Interior ever since.

     Between 1918 and 1920, numerous union claims demanded that the Mail, Telephone and Telegraph Directorate should be transferred under the authority of the Public Works and Communications Ministry. But the authorities of the time would not agree to this proposal, fearing that the resulting strikes would jeopardize the state security. Yet, a few years later, these claims were accepted and the Mail, Telephone and Telegraph Directorate passed under the authority of the Public Works and Communications Ministry.

     Concurrently, special transmissions bodies were created within the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence. By 1948, the communication connections for the Royal House were provided by the Central Office, which also had the Parliament as its beneficiary. This office, upon militarisation of the state structures, became the VIII^th Technical Directorate with the General People’s Security Directorate. In 1953, the Directorate was subordinated to the Ministry of Interior. In 1969, a transmission unit was set up within the Ministry of Interior, which took under its responsibility all government telecommunications activities. On 1 July 1969, Mr. Iuliu Plapcianu was appointed Head of the Special “R” Transmissions Unit. Starting with 1973, this unit operated within the Headquarters for Operational Technique and Transmissions under the Ministry of Interior.

     The “R” Transmissions Unit had as main duties: to provide telephone, radiotelephone, telegraph and radiotelegraph connections for both central and local authorities in Romania.

      Under Decree no. 4/26.12.1989 issued by the Council of the National Salvation Front, the Special “R” Transmissions Unit was taken over by the Ministry of National Defence.

     After 1990, the Special “R” Unit went through a transition period. The institution underwent successive reorganization attempts aimed at adjusting its activity to the new requirements, so that its structure, tasks and responsibilities should reflect the transformations at the heart of the entire military structure.

On 18 December 1992, under a Decision of the Supreme Council of National Defence, the institution received its current name: the Special Telecommunications Service. Its complete separation from the Ministry of National Defence was first effected by the Government Decision no. 229/ 27 May 1993, which laid down certain organization and operation principles of the institution, defining it as a central specialized structure in the special telecommunications field. The legal frame regulating its functioning was completed upon ratification of Law no. 92/1996.