This paper, which has been prepared in association with a paper on the development and design of colonial telecommunication services, discusses the planning and organization of the necessary systems. As in the associated paper, the countries considered are the colonial, protected and mandated territories under the control of the British Government, which lie mostly in the tropics.The subjects discussed include the factors governing the general planning of a telecommunication system so that it shall meet requirements and operate efficiently at minimum costs. The organization needed for such systems is outlined, with observations on the performance of work for other Government Services, staff selection and training requirements, arrangements for purchase of materials, the control of expenditure by the costing of works and the desirability of keeping cost accounts.