Sigurd Fougner

Sigurd Fougner (1879-1950) was a Norwegian engineer and inventor, best known for his contributions to automatic telephone exchange technology. He was a pioneer in the development of rotary automatic telephone exchanges.

Fougner co-founded Elektrisk Bureau (EB) in 1892, later acquired by Ericsson. EB became a significant player in the Norwegian telecommunications industry. Fougner's inventions and patents related to telephone switching systems were instrumental in the widespread adoption of automatic telephone exchanges in Norway and internationally. He held several patents relating to rotary switch design and control mechanisms. He played a key role in the transition from manual switchboards operated by telephone operators to automated telephone networks. His work significantly improved the efficiency and capacity of telephone systems. Fougner also made contributions to other areas of electrical engineering.