The CIA World Factbook Edition 1991 Communications

Telecommunication systems In 35 editions of 36.

Telecommunication systems was published in 35 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2024. The 1991 edition carries it in 227 entries, in its Communications section, under the heading “Telecommunications”. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 1991 edition
227
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2024

Published as “Telephone system” (1995 to 2019), “Telecommunication systems” (2020 to 2024) and “Telecommunications” (1990 to 1994).

the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Telecommunication systems, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.

1991

Every edition with Telecommunication systems

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Africa

58 entries

Algeria

  • excellent domestic and international service in the north, sparse in the south;
  • 693,000 telephones;
  • stations--26 AM, no FM, 113 TV;
  • 1,550,000 TV sets;
  • 3,500,000 receiver sets;
  • 6 submarine cables;
  • coaxial cable or radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 1 ARABSAT, and 15 domestic

Angola

  • fair system of wire, radio relay, and troposcatter routes;
  • high frequency used extensively for military/Cuban links;
  • 40,300 telephones;
  • stations--17 AM, 13 FM, 2 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Benin

  • fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio relay;
  • 16,200 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station

Botswana

  • the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and a few radiocommunication stations;
  • 17,900 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Burkina now Burkina Faso

  • all services only fair;
  • radio relay, wire, and radio communication stations in use;
  • 13,900 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Burundi

  • sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity radio relay links;
  • 8,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Cape Verde now Cabo Verde

  • interisland radio relay system, high-frequency radio to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau;
  • 1,740 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Cameroon

  • good system of open wire, cable, troposcatter, and radio relay;
  • 26,000 telephones;
  • stations--10 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Central African Republic

  • fair system;
  • network relies primarily on radio relay links, with low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used;
  • 6,000 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Chad

  • fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links;
  • 5,000 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service;
  • many facilities are inoperative;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Comoros

  • sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion;
  • over 1,800 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV

Zaire now Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • barely adequate wire and radio relay service;
  • 31,200 telephones;
  • stations--10 AM, 4 FM, 18 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic

Congo now Republic of the Congo

  • services adequate for government use;
  • primary network is composed of radio relay routes and coaxial cables;
  • key centers are Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
  • 18,100 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 1 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station

Ivory Coast now Cote d'Ivoire

  • system above African average;
  • consists of open-wire lines and radio relay links;
  • 87,700 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 17 FM, 11 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables

Djibouti

  • fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and radio relay stations at outlying places;
  • 7,300 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 ARABSAT;
  • 1 submarine cable to Saudi Arabia

Egypt

  • system is large but still inadequate for needs;
  • principal centers are Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, and Tanta;
  • intercity connections by coaxial cable and microwave;
  • extensive upgrading in progress;
  • 600,000 telephones (est.);
  • stations--25 AM, 5 FM, 47 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
  • 4 submarine coaxial cables;
  • tropospheric scatter to Sudan;
  • radio relay to Libya (may not be operational);
  • radio relay to Jordan

Equatorial Guinea

  • poor system with adequate government services;
  • international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries;
  • 2,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Swaziland now Eswatini

  • system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity radio relay links;
  • 15,400 telephones;
  • stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Ethiopia

  • open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use;
  • open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti;
  • radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti;
  • stations--4 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 45,000 TV sets;
  • 3,300,000 radios;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Europa Island

1 meteorological station

Gabon

  • adequate system of open-wire, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations;
  • 13,800 telephones;
  • stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

The Gambia

  • adequate network of radio relay and wire;
  • 3,500 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Ghana

  • poor to fair system of open-wire and cable, radio relay links;
  • 38,000 telephones;
  • stations--6 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guinea

  • fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system;
  • 10,000 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 12,000 TV sets;
  • 125,000 radio receivers;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guinea-Bissau

  • poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications;
  • 3,000 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Kenya

  • in top group of African systems;
  • consists of radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunication stations;
  • 260,000 telephones;
  • stations--11 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTLESAT

Lesotho

  • rudimentary system consisting of a few land lines, a small radio relay system, and minor radiocommunication stations;
  • 5,920 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Liberia

  • telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network;
  • main center is Monrovia;
  • 8,500 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Libya

  • modern telecommunications system using radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations;
  • 370,000 telephones;
  • stations--18 AM, 3 FM, 13 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 14 domestic;
  • submarine cables to France and Italy;
  • radio relay to Tunisia;
  • tropospheric scatter to Greece;
  • planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite stations

Madagascar

  • above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay, and troposcatter links;
  • submarine cable to Bahrain;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT;
  • over 38,200 telephones;
  • stations--14 AM, 1 FM, 7 (30 repeaters) TV

Malawi

  • fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communication stations;
  • 36,800 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, 4 FM, no TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Mali

  • domestic system poor but improving;
  • provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations;
  • expansion of radio relay in progress;
  • 11,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Mauritania

  • poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor radio relay links, and radio communications stations;
  • 5,200 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with a third planned

Mauritius

  • small system with good service;
  • new microwave link to Reunion;
  • high-frequency radio links to several countries;
  • 48,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Mayotte

  • small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications;
  • includes radio relay and high-frequency radio communications for links with Comoros and international communications;
  • 450 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Morocco

  • good system composed of wire lines, cables, and radio relay links;
  • principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat, secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan;
  • 280,000 telephones;
  • stations--14 AM, 6 FM, 47 TV;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT;
  • radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
  • coaxial cable to Algeria;
  • microwave network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco

Mozambique

  • fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines, and radio relay;
  • 57,400 telephones;
  • stations--15 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

Namibia

  • good urban, fair rural services;
  • radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers;
  • 62,800 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

Niger

  • small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area;
  • 11,900 telephones;
  • stations--15 AM, 5 FM, 16 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 4 domestic

Nigeria

  • above-average system limited by poor maintenance;
  • major expansion in progress;
  • radio relay and cable routes;
  • 155,000 telephones;
  • stations--37 AM, 19 FM, 38 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, domestic, with 19 stations;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable

Reunion

  • adequate system for needs;
  • modern open-wire line and radio relay network;
  • principal center Saint-Denis;
  • radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
  • new radio relay route to Mauritius;
  • 85,900 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 relays) TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Rwanda

  • fair system with low-capacity radio relay system centered on Kigali;
  • 6,600 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 5 FM, no TV;
  • earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

Saint Helena now Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

  • 1,500 radio receivers;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 550 telephones in automatic network;
  • HF radio links to Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks;
  • major coaxial cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Sao Tome and Principe

  • minimal system;
  • 2,200 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 2 FM, no TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Senegal

  • above-average urban system, using radio relay and cable;
  • 40,200 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Seychelles

  • direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries;
  • 13,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • USAF tracking station

Sierra Leone

  • marginal telephone and telegraph service;
  • national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present;
  • 23,650 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Somalia

  • minimal telephone and telegraph service;
  • radio relay and troposcatter system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns;
  • 6,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • scheduled to receive an ARABSAT station

South Africa

  • the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa;
  • it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations;
  • key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria;
  • 4,500,000 telephones;
  • stations--14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV;
  • 1 submarine cable;
  • earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Sudan

  • large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained;
  • consists of radio relay, cables, radio communications, and troposcatter;
  • domestic satellite system with 14 stations;
  • 73,400 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

Tanzania

  • fair system of open wire, radio relay, and troposcatter;
  • 103,800 telephones;
  • stations--12 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Togo

  • fair system based on network of open-wire lines supplemented by radio relay routes;
  • 12,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 3 (2 relays) TV;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

Tromelin Island

important meteorological station

Tunisia

  • the system is above the African average;
  • facilities consist of open-wire lines, multiconductor cable, and radio relay;
  • key centers are Safaqis, Susah, Bizerte, and Tunis;
  • 233,000 telephones;
  • stations--18 AM, 4 FM, 14 TV;
  • 4 submarine cables;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT with back-up control station;
  • coaxial cable to Algeria;
  • radio relay to Algeria, Libya, and Italy

Uganda

  • fair system with radio relay and radio communications stations;
  • 61,600 telephones;
  • stations--10 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
  • satellite communications ground stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Western Sahara

  • sparse and limited system;
  • tied into Morocco's system by radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations linked to Rabat, Morocco;
  • 2,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 2 TV

Zambia

  • facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa;
  • high-capacity radio relay connects most larger towns and cities;
  • 71,700 telephones;
  • stations--11 AM, 3 FM, 9 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Zimbabwe

  • system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance;
  • consists of radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radio communications stations;
  • 247,000 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, 18 FM, 8 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Antarctic Region

3 entries

Bouvet Island

automatic meteorological station

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

NA

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations

Arctic Region

4 entries

Greenland

  • adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and radio relay;
  • 17,900 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 7 (35 relays) FM, 4 (9 relays) TV;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Iceland

  • adequate domestic service, wire and radio communication system;
  • 135,000 telephones;
  • stations--10 AM, 17 (43 relays) FM, 14 (132 relays) TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Jan Mayen

radio and meteorological station

Svalbard

5 meteorological/radio stations; stations--1 AM, 1 (2 relays) FM, 1 TV

Asia

14 entries

Afghanistan

  • limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services;
  • television introduced in 1980;
  • 31,200 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 satellite earth station

Bangladesh

  • adequate international radio communications and landline service;
  • fair domestic wire and microwave service;
  • fair broadcast service;
  • 241,250 telephones;
  • stations--9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV;
  • 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth stations

Bhutan

  • inadequate;
  • 1,990 telephones (1988);
  • 22,000 radios (1990 est.);
  • 85 TVs (1985);
  • stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)

British Indian Ocean Territory

  • minimal facilities;
  • stations (operated by the US Navy)--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

China

  • domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use;
  • unevenly distributed internal system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and most townships;
  • 11,000,000 telephones (December 1989);
  • stations--274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050 relays) TV;
  • more than 215 million radio receivers;
  • 75 million TVs;
  • satellite earth stations--4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, and 55 domestic

India

  • poor domestic telephone service, international radio communications adequate;
  • 4,700,000 telephones;
  • stations--96 AM, 4 FM, 274 TV (government controlled);
  • domestic satellite system for communications and TV;
  • 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • submarine cables to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates

Japan

  • excellent domestic and international service;
  • 64,000,000 telephones;
  • stations--318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major--1 kw or greater);
  • satellite earth stations--4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and USSR

Korea, North now North Korea

  • stations--18 AM, no FM, 11 TV;
  • 200,000 TV sets;
  • 3,500,000 radio receivers;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Korea, South now South Korea

  • adequate domestic and international services;
  • 4,800,000 telephones;
  • stations--79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or greater);
  • satellite earth stations--2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Maldives

  • minimal domestic and international facilities;
  • 2,804 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Mongolia

  • stations--12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial relays);
  • relay of Soviet TV;
  • 120,000 TVs;
  • 186,000 radios;
  • at least 1 earth station

Nepal

  • poor telephone and telegraph service;
  • fair radio communication and broadcast service;
  • international radio communication service is poor;
  • 50,000 telephones (1990);
  • stations--88 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Pakistan

  • good international radiocommunication service over microwave and INTELSAT satellite;
  • domestic radio communications poor;
  • broadcast service good;
  • 813,000 telephones (1990);
  • stations--19 AM, 8 FM, 29 TV;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Sri Lanka

  • good international service;
  • 114,000 telephones (1982);
  • stations--12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV;
  • submarine cables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti;
  • 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Central America and the Caribbean

31 entries

Anguilla

  • modern internal telephone system;
  • 890 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 1 FM, no TV;
  • radio relay link to island of Saint Martin

Antigua and Barbuda

  • good automatic telephone system;
  • 6,700 telephones;
  • tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe;
  • stations--4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV, 2 shortwave;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Aruba

  • generally adequate;
  • extensive interisland radio relay links;
  • 72,168 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 sea cable to Sint Maarten

The Bahamas

  • highly developed;
  • 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system;
  • tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida;
  • stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Barbados

  • islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones;
  • tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia;
  • stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 2 (1 is pay) TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Belize

  • 8,650 telephones;
  • above-average system based on radio relay;
  • stations--6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

British Virgin Islands

  • 3,000 telephones;
  • worldwide external telephone service;
  • submarine cable communication links to Bermuda;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Cayman Islands

  • 35,000 telephones;
  • telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access international services;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Costa Rica

  • very good domestic telephone service;
  • 292,000 telephones;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • stations--71 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 13 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Cuba

  • stations--150 AM, 5 FM, 58 TV;
  • 1,530,000 TVs;
  • 2,140,000 radios;
  • 229,000 telephones;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Dominica

  • 4,600 telephones in fully automatic network;
  • VHF and UHF link to Saint Lucia;
  • new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe;
  • stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

Dominican Republic

  • relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide radio relay network;
  • 190,000 telephones;
  • stations--120 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 6 shortwave;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

El Salvador

  • nationwide trunk radio relay system;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 116,000 telephones;
  • stations--77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Grenada

  • automatic, islandwide telephone system with 5,650 telephones;
  • new SHF links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent;
  • VHF and UHF links to Trinidad and Carriacou;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Guadeloupe

  • domestic facilities inadequate;
  • 57,300 telephones;
  • interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique;
  • stations--2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

Guatemala

  • fairly modern network centered in Guatemala [city];
  • 97,670 telephones;
  • stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Haiti

  • domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better;
  • 36,000 telephones;
  • stations--33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station

Honduras

  • improved, but still inadequate;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 35,100 telephones;
  • stations--176 AM, no FM, 28 TV, 7 shortwave;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Jamaica

  • fully automatic domestic telephone network;
  • 127,000 telephones;
  • stations--10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables

Martinique

  • domestic facilities are adequate;
  • 68,900 telephones;
  • interisland radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia;
  • stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Montserrat

3,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV

Netherlands Antilles

  • generally adequate facilities;
  • extensive interisland radio relay links;
  • stations--9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Nicaragua

  • low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 60,000 telephones;
  • stations--45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave;
  • earth stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Panama

  • domestic and international facilities well developed;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean satellite antennas;
  • 220,000 telephones;
  • stations--91 AM, no FM, 23 TV;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable

Puerto Rico

  • 900,000 or 99% of total households with TV;
  • 1,067,787 telephones (1988);
  • stations--50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV (1990)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

  • good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin;
  • 2,400 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 4 TV

Saint Lucia

  • fully automatic telephone system;
  • 9,500 telephones;
  • direct radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
  • interisland troposcatter link to Barbados;
  • stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (cable)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  • islandwide fully automatic telephone system;
  • 6,500 telephones;
  • VHF/UHF interisland links to Barbados and the Grenadines;
  • new SHF links to Grenada and Saint Lucia;
  • stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV (cable)

Trinidad and Tobago

  • excellent international service via tropospheric scatter links to Barbados and Guyana;
  • good local service;
  • 109,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Turks and Caicos Islands

  • fair cable and radio services;
  • 1,446 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, no FM, several TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Virgin Islands

  • 44,280 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 6 FM, 3 TV;
  • modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities;
  • 90,000 radios;
  • 56,000 TVs

Europe

35 entries

Albania

  • stations--17 AM, 1 FM, 9 TV;
  • 246,000 TVs (1990);
  • 210,000 radios

Andorra

  • international digital microwave network;
  • international landline circuits to France and Spain;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 17,700 telephones

Austria

  • highly developed and efficient;
  • 4,014,000 telephones;
  • extensive TV and radiobroadcast systems;
  • stations--6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV;
  • satellite stations operating in INTELSAT 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station and 1 Indian Ocean earth station and EUTELSAT systems

Belgium

  • excellent domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities;
  • 4,720,000 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, 19 FM (42 relays), 25 TV (10 relays);
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and EUTELSAT systems

Bulgaria

  • 2.5 million telephones;
  • direct dialing to 36 countries;
  • phone density is 25 phones per 100 persons;
  • 67% of Sofia households now have a phone (November 1988);
  • stations--21 AM, 16 FM, and 19 TV, with 1 Soviet TV relay in Sofia;
  • 2.1 million TV sets (1990);
  • 92% of country receives No. 1 television program (May 1990)

Czechoslovakia

  • 4 million telephones;
  • 25% of households have a telephone;
  • stations--60 AM, 16 FM, 39 TV (11 Soviet TV relays);
  • 4.4 million TVs (1990)

Denmark

  • excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast services;
  • 4,509,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 15 (39 repeaters) FM, 27 (25 repeaters) TV;
  • 7 submarine coaxial cables;
  • 1 earth station operating in INTELSAT, 4 Atlantic Ocean, EUTELSAT, and domestic systems

Faroe Islands

  • good international communications;
  • fair domestic facilities;
  • 27,900 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables

Finland

  • good service from cable and radio relay network;
  • 3,140,000 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 42 (101 relays) FM, 79 (197 relays) TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • satellite service via Swedish earth stations;
  • earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

France

  • highly developed system provides satisfactory telephone, telegraph, radio and TV broadcast services;
  • 39,200,000 telephones;
  • stations--40 AM, 138 (777 relays) FM, 216 (8,902 relays) TV;
  • 25 submarine coaxial cables;
  • communication satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT, 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, EUTELSAT, MARISAT, and domestic systems

Gibraltar

  • adequate international radiocommunication facilities;
  • automatic telephone system with 14,000 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Greece

  • adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
  • 4,122,317 telephones;
  • stations--30 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 39 (560 repeaters) TV;
  • 8 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and MARISAT systems

Guernsey

  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 41,900 telephones;
  • 1 submarine cable

Vatican City now Holy See (Vatican City)

  • stations--3 AM, 4 FM, no TV;
  • 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange;
  • no communications satellite systems

Hungary

  • telephone density is at 17 per 100 inhabitants;
  • 49% of all phones are in Budapest;
  • 12-15 year wait for a phone;
  • 16,000 telex lines (June 1990);
  • stations--13 AM, 12 FM, 21 TV (8 Soviet TV relays);
  • 4.2 TVs (1990)

Ireland

  • small, modern system using cable and radio relay circuits;
  • 900,000 telephones;
  • stations--45 AM, 16 (29 relays) FM, 18 (68 relays) TV;
  • 5 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Man, Isle of now Isle of Man

24,435 telephones; stations--1 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV

Italy

  • well engineered, constructed, and operated;
  • 28,000,000 telephones;
  • stations--144 AM, 54 (over 1,800 repeaters) FM, 450 (over 1,300 repeaters) TV;
  • 22 submarine cables;
  • communication satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

Jersey

  • 63,700 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables

Liechtenstein

  • automatic telephone system;
  • 25,400 telephones;
  • stations--no AM, no FM, no TV

Luxembourg

  • adequate and efficient system, mainly buried cables;
  • 230,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 4 FM, 6 TV;
  • 2 communication satellite earth stations operating in EUTELSAT and domestic systems

Malta

  • modern automatic system centered in Valletta;
  • 163,800 telephones;
  • stations--9 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 submarine cable;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Monaco

  • served by the French communications system;
  • automatic telephone system;
  • 38,200 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV;
  • no communication satellite stations

Netherlands

  • highly developed, well maintained, and integrated;
  • extensive system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by radio relay links;
  • 9,418,000 telephones;
  • stations--6 AM, 20 (33 repeaters) FM, 22 (8 repeaters) TV;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • communication satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

Norway

  • high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services;
  • 3,102,000 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, 46 (1,400 relays) FM, 55 (2,100 relays) TV;
  • 4 coaxial submarine cables;
  • communications satellite earth stations operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

Poland

  • phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents (October 1990);
  • 3.1 million subscribers;
  • exchanges are 86% automatic (February 1990);
  • stations--29 AM, 29 FM, 37 (5 Soviet relays) TV;
  • 9.6 million TVs

Portugal

  • facilities are generally adequate;
  • 2,690,000 telephones;
  • stations--57 AM, 66 (22 relays) FM, 25 (23 relays) TV;
  • 7 submarine cables;
  • communication satellite ground stations operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and domestic systems (mainland and Azores)

Romania

  • about 2.3 million telephone customers;
  • 89% of phone network is automatic;
  • present phone density is 9.85 per 100 residents;
  • roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990);
  • stations--39 AM, 29 FM, 39 TV (1990)

San Marino

  • automatic telephone system;
  • 11,700 telephones;
  • stations--no AM, 20 FM, no TV;
  • radio relay and cable links into Italian networks;
  • no communication satellite facilities

Soviet Union

  • 37 million telephone subscribers;
  • phone density of 37 per 100 households;
  • urban phone density is 9.2 phones per 100 residents;
  • rural phone density is 2.9 per 100 residents (June 1990);
  • automatic telephone dialing with 70 countries and between 25 Soviet cities (April 1989);
  • stations--457 AM, 131 FM, over 900 TV;
  • 90 million TVs (December 1990)

Spain

  • generally adequate, modern facilities;
  • 15,350,464 telephones;
  • stations--206 AM, 411 (134 relays) FM, 143 (1,297 relays) TV;
  • 17 coaxial submarine cables;
  • communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (5 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and ENTELSAT systems

Sweden

  • excellent domestic and international facilities;
  • 8,200,000 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 56 (321 relays) FM, 111 (925 relays) TV;
  • 5 submarine coaxial cables;
  • communication satellite earth stations operating in the INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

Switzerland

  • excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services;
  • 5,890,000 telephones;
  • stations--6 AM, 36 (400 relays) FM, 145 (1,250 relays) TV;
  • communications satellite earth stations operating in the INTELSAT (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

United Kingdom

  • modern, efficient domestic and international system;
  • 30,200,000 telephones;
  • excellent countrywide broadcast systems;
  • stations--223 AM, 165 (401 relays) FM, 207 (3,210 relays) TV;
  • 40 coaxial submarine cables;
  • satellite communication ground stations operating in INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and EUTELSAT systems

Yugoslavia

  • 1.6 million telephones (97% automatic);
  • 7,500 public telephone booths;
  • stations--85 AM, 69 FM, 103 TV;
  • 4.65 million radios;
  • 4.1 million TVs (1990);
  • 92% of country receives No. 1 television program (1990)

Middle East

17 entries

Bahrain

  • excellent international telecommunications;
  • adequate domestic services;
  • 98,000 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
  • tropospheric scatter and microwave to Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia;
  • submarine cable to Qatar and UAE

Cyprus

  • excellent in the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), moderately good in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area;
  • 210,000 telephones;
  • stations--14 AM, 7 (7 repeaters) FM, 2 (40 repeaters) TV;
  • tropospheric scatter circuits to Greece and Turkey;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite earth stations--INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, and EUTELSAT systems

Gaza Strip

  • stations--no AM,
  • no FM,
  • no TV

Iran

  • radio relay extends throughout country;
  • system centered in Tehran;
  • 2,143,000 telephones;
  • stations--62 AM, 30 FM, 250 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • HF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and USSR

Iraq

  • good network consists of coaxial cables, radio relay links, and radiocommunication stations;
  • 632,000 telephones;
  • stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 81 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the Intersputnik system;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey

Israel

  • most highly developed in the Middle East though not the largest;
  • good system of coaxial cable and radio relay;
  • 1,800,000 telephones;
  • stations--11 AM, 24 FM, 54 TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Jordan

  • adequate system of radio relay, cable, and radio;
  • 81,500 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 3 FM, 24 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic TV receive-only;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria;
  • radio relay to Lebanon is inactive;
  • a microwave network linking Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Jordan

Kuwait

  • excellent international, adequate domestic facilities;
  • 258,000 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT;
  • 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Lebanon

  • rebuilding program disrupted;
  • had fair system of radio relay, cable;
  • 325,000 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 15 TV;
  • 1 inactive Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • radio relay to Jordan and Syria, inoperable

Oman

  • fair system of open-wire, radio relay, and radio communications stations;
  • 50,000 telephones;
  • stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 11 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

Qatar

  • modern system centered in Doha;
  • 110,000 telephones;
  • tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
  • radio relay to Saudi Arabia;
  • submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 3 TV;
  • earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT

Saudi Arabia

  • good system with extensive microwave and coaxial cable systems;
  • 1,624,000 telephones;
  • stations--21 AM, 16 FM, 97 TV;
  • radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan;
  • coaxial cable to Kuwait;
  • submarine cable to Djibouti and Egypt;
  • earth stations--3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT

Syria

  • fair system currently undergoing significant improvement;
  • 512,600 telephones;
  • stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 40 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station, with 1 Intersputnik station under construction;
  • 1 submarine cable;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon (inactive)

Turkey now Turkiye

  • fair domestic and international systems;
  • trunk radio relay network;
  • 3,400,000 telephones;
  • stations--15 AM;
  • 45 (60 repeaters) FM;
  • 67 (504 repeaters) TV;
  • satellite communications ground stations operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems;
  • 1 submarine telephone cable

United Arab Emirates

  • adequate system of radio relay and coaxial cable;
  • key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy;
  • 386,600 telephones;
  • stations--8 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV;
  • satellite communications ground stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT;
  • submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan;
  • tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
  • radio relay to Saudi Arabia

West Bank

  • open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded;
  • stations--no AM,
  • no FM,
  • no TV

Yemen

  • the North has a poor but improving system with new radio relay and cable networks, while the South has a small system of open-wire, radio relay, multiconductor cable, and radio communications stations;
  • 65,000 telephones (est.);
  • stations--4 AM, no FM, 22 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT;
  • radio relay to Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti

North America

5 entries

Bermuda

  • modern with fully automatic telephone system;
  • 52,670 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Canada

  • excellent service provided by modern media;
  • 18.0 million telephones;
  • stations--900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters) TV;
  • 5 coaxial submarine cables;
  • over 300 earth stations operating in INTELSAT (including 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic systems

Mexico

  • highly developed system with extensive radio relay links;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 6.41 million telephones;
  • stations--679 AM, no FM, 238 TV, 22 shortwave;
  • 120 domestic satellite terminals;
  • earth stations--4 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

  • 3,601 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
  • radiotelecommunication with most countries in the world;
  • 1 earth station in French domestic system

United States

  • 182,558,000 telephones;
  • stations--4,892 AM, 5,200 FM (including 3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting), 7,296 TV (including 796 commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200 commercial cable);
  • 495,000,000 radio receivers (1982);
  • 150,000,000 TV sets (1982);
  • satellite communications ground stations--45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Oceania

27 entries

American Samoa

  • 6,500 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station, 1 COMSAT earth station

Australia

  • good international and domestic service;
  • 8.7 million telephones;
  • stations--258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV;
  • submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia;
  • domestic satellite service;
  • satellite stations--4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Cook Islands

  • stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 10,000 radio receivers;
  • 2,052 telephones;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Fiji

  • modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities;
  • regional radio center;
  • important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia;
  • 53,228 telephones;
  • stations--7 AM, 1 FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

French Polynesia

  • 33,200 telephones;
  • 84,000 radio receivers;
  • 26,400 TV sets;
  • stations--5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guam

  • 26,317 telephones (1989);
  • stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
  • 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

Johnston Atoll

excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), commercial satellite television system (receive only), and UHF/VHF air-ground radio, marine VHF/FM Channel 16

Kiribati

  • 1,400 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Marshall Islands

  • telephone network--570 lines (Majuro) and 186 (Ebeye);
  • telex services;
  • islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes);
  • stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia

  • 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987);
  • telephone network--960 telephone lines at both Kolonia and Truk;
  • islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes);
  • stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Nauru

  • adequate intraisland and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities;
  • 1,600 telephones;
  • 4,000 radios;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

New Caledonia

  • 32,578 telephones (1987);
  • stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

New Zealand

  • excellent international and domestic systems;
  • 2,110,000 telephones;
  • stations 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV;
  • submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji;
  • 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Niue

  • single-line telephone system connects all villages on island;
  • 383 telephones;
  • 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.);
  • stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Norfolk Island

  • 1,500 radio receivers (1982);
  • radio link service with Sydney;
  • 987 telephones (1983);
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Northern Mariana Islands

stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the now Palau

stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Papua New Guinea

  • services are adequate and being improved;
  • facilities provide radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services;
  • submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam;
  • 51,700 telephones (1985);
  • stations--31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987);
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Pitcairn Islands

  • 24 telephones;
  • party line telephone service on the island;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • diesel generator provides electricity

Western Samoa now Samoa

  • 7,500 telephones;
  • 70,000 radios;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT station

Solomon Islands

  • 3,000 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Tokelau

telephone service between islands and to Western Samoa

Tonga

  • 3,529 telephones;
  • 66,000 radios;
  • no TV sets;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Tuvalu

  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 300 radiotelephones;
  • 4,000 radios;
  • 108 telephones

Vanuatu

  • stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 3,000 telephones;
  • satellite communications ground stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Wake Island

  • underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu;
  • AFRTS radio and television service provided by satellite;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Wallis and Futuna

225 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

South America

14 entries

Argentina

  • extensive modern system;
  • 2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones);
  • radio relay widely used;
  • stations--171 AM, no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • domestic satellite network has 40 stations

Bolivia

  • radio relay system being expanded;
  • improved international services;
  • 144,300 telephones;
  • stations--129 AM, no FM, 43 TV, 68 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Brazil

  • good system;
  • extensive radio relay facilities;
  • 9.86 million telephones;
  • stations--1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations with total of 3 antennas;
  • 64 domestic satellite stations

Chile

  • modern telephone system based on extensive radio relay facilities;
  • 768,000 telephones;
  • stations--159 AM, no FM, 131 TV, 11 shortwave;
  • satellite stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

Colombia

  • nationwide radio relay system;
  • 1,890,000 telephones;
  • stations--413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations with 2 antennas and 11 domestic satellite stations

Ecuador

  • domestic facilities generally adequate;
  • 318,000 telephones;
  • stations--272 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 39 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Falkland Islands now Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

  • government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands;
  • 590 telephones;
  • stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries

French Guiana

  • fair open wire and radio relay system;
  • 18,100 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guyana

  • fair system with radio relay network;
  • over 27,000 telephones;
  • tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad;
  • stations--4 AM, 3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Paraguay

  • principal center in Asuncion;
  • fair intercity microwave net;
  • 78,300 telephones;
  • stations--40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Peru

  • fairly adequate for most requirements;
  • nationwide radio relay system;
  • 544,000 telephones;
  • stations--273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144 shortwave;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations, 12 domestic antennas

Suriname

  • international facilities good;
  • domestic radio relay system;
  • 27,500 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Uruguay

  • most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo;
  • new nationwide radio relay network;
  • 337,000 telephones;
  • stations--99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Venezuela

  • modern and expanding;
  • 1,440,000 telephones;
  • stations--181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite communications ground stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

Southeast Asia

15 entries

Brunei

  • service throughout country is adequate for present needs;
  • international service good to adjacent Malaysia;
  • radiobroadcast coverage good;
  • 33,000 telephones (1987);
  • stations--4 AM/FM, 1 TV;
  • 74,000 radio receivers (1987);
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Burma now Burma (Myanmar)

  • meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service;
  • international service is good;
  • radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas;
  • 53,000 telephones (1986);
  • stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (1985);
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Cambodia

  • service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public;
  • international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Christmas Island

4,000 radios (1982)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

  • 250 radios (1985);
  • linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Hong Kong

  • modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services;
  • 3,000,000 telephones;
  • microwave transmission links and extensive optical fiber transmission network;
  • stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) relay station and 1 British Forces Broadcasting Service relay station;
  • 2,500,000 radio receivers;
  • 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets);
  • satellite earth stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China;
  • links to 5 international submarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Indonesia

  • interisland microwave system and HF police net;
  • domestic service fair, international service good;
  • radiobroadcast coverage good;
  • 763,000 telephones (1986);
  • stations--618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • and 1 domestic satellite communications system

Laos

  • service to general public considered poor;
  • radio network provides generally erratic service to government users;
  • 7,390 telephones (1986);
  • stations--10 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 satellite earth station

Macau

  • fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services;
  • 52,000 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
  • 75,000 radio receivers (est.);
  • international high-frequency radio communication facility;
  • access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Malaysia

  • good intercity service provided to peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave relay, adequate intercity radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei;
  • international service good;
  • good coverage by radio and television broadcasts;
  • 994,860 telephones (1984);
  • stations--28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV;
  • submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak;
  • SEACOM submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 domestic

Philippines

  • good international radio and submarine cable services;
  • domestic and interisland service adequate;
  • 872,900 telephones;
  • stations--267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US);
  • submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 11 domestic

Singapore

  • good domestic facilities;
  • good international service;
  • good radio and television broadcast coverage;
  • 1,110,000 telephones;
  • stations--13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV;
  • submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Taiwan

  • best developed system in Asia outside of Japan;
  • 7,800,000 telephones;
  • extensive microwave transmission links on east and west coasts;
  • stations--91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 relays);
  • 8,620,000 radios;
  • 6,386,000 TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome);
  • earth stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), the Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Thailand

  • service to general public inadequate;
  • bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and radio relay network;
  • 739,500 telephones (1987);
  • stations--over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks;
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT;
  • domestic satellite system being developed

Vietnam

  • 35,000 telephones in Ho Chi Minh City (1984);
  • stations--16 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • 2,300,000 TV sets;
  • 6,000,000 radio receivers;
  • at least 2 satellite earth stations, including 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Oceans

4 entries

Arctic Ocean

no submarine cables

Atlantic Ocean

  • numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean;
  • numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network

Indian Ocean

no submarine cables

Pacific Ocean

several submarine cables with network focused on Guam and Hawaii

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 1991, “Telecommunication systems”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/telecommunication-systems/1991.

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