In the early forties of the 20th century, Western Union has used the first time a commercial intercity microwave transmission system. In 1866, Sibley ordered the engineers to develop a Western Union telegraph system of stock quotes in real time. In October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. In 1864, fearing the laying of long underwater lines, Western Union offered to carry out laying of telegraph lines to Europe through the Russian Alaska under the narrow Bering Strait and then to Siberia with branching in the major cities of Europe.