The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word SWITCHBOARD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
W
I
T
C
H
B
O
A
R
D
More clues leading to the result SWITCHBOARD
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "communications centre" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case communications centre = switchboard.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SWITCHBOARD mean?
SWITCHBOARD noun- The electronic panel that is used to direct telephone calls to the desired recipient.
- A device that directs electricity from one source to another.