The CIA World Factbook Edition 1992 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 1992 edition carries it in 247 entries, in its Communications section, under the heading “Telecommunications”. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 1992 edition
247
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).

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1992

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Africa

58 entries

Algeria

  • excellent domestic and international service in the north, sparse in the south;
  • 822,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 26 AM, no FM, 18 TV;
  • 1,600,000 TV sets;
  • 5,200,000 radios;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia;
  • coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, l ARABSAT, and 15 domestic

Angola

  • limited system of wire, radio relay, and troposcatter routes;
  • high frequency radio used extensively for military links;
  • 40,300 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 17 AM, 13 FM, 6 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Benin

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

Botswana

  • the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and a few radio-communications stations;
  • 26,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 7 AM, 13 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;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Burundi

  • sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity radio relay links;
  • 8,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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 Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
  • over 1,700 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 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;
  • broadcast stations - 11 AM, 11 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Chad

  • fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links;
  • broadcast stations - 6 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;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Zaire now Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • barely adequate wire and microwave service;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite earth station

Ivory Coast now Cote d'Ivoire

  • well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity;
  • consists of open-wire lines and radio relay links;
  • 87,700 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 17 FM, 13 TV, 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables

Djibouti

  • fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and radio relay stations at outlying places;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 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, Suez and Tanta;
  • intercity connections by coaxial cable and microwave;
  • extensive upgrading in progress;
  • 600,000 telephones (est.);
  • broadcast stations - 39 AM, 6 FM, 41 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
  • 5 submarine coaxial cables;
  • tropospheric scatter to Sudan;
  • radio relay to Libya, Israel, and Jordan

Equatorial Guinea

  • poor system with adequate government services;
  • international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries;
  • 2,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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 microwave links;
  • 17,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 7 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;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 100,000 TV sets;
  • 9,000,000 radios;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Europa Island

1 meteorological station

Gabon

  • adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations;
  • 15,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 3 (5 repeaters) TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

The Gambia

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

Ghana

  • poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave links;
  • 42,300 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators) TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guinea

  • poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system;
  • 15,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • 65,000 TV sets;
  • 200,000 radio receivers;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guinea-Bissau

  • poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications;
  • 3,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV

Kenya

  • in top group of African systems;
  • consists primarily of radio relay links;
  • over 260,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 16 AM;
  • 4 FM, 6 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Lesotho

  • rudimentary system consisting of a few landlines, a small microwave system, and minor radio communications stations;
  • 5,920 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Liberia

  • telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network;
  • main center is Monrovia;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
  • most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency movement

Libya

  • modern telecommunications system using radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations;
  • 370,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 12 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 and Egypt;
  • 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 broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV

Malawi

  • fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications stations;
  • 42,250 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 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;
  • broadcast 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 (improvements being made);
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

Mauritius

  • small system with good service utilizing primarily radio relay;
  • new microwave link to Reunion;
  • high-frequency radio links to several countries;
  • over 48,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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 to Comoros and international communications;
  • 450 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 20 AM, 7 FM, 26 TV and 26 additional rebroadcast sites;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT;
  • radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
  • coaxial cable and microwave to Algeria;
  • microwave network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

Mozambique

  • fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines, and radio relay;
  • broadcast stations - 29 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV;
  • earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Namibia

  • good urban, fair rural services;
  • radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers;
  • 62,800 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

Niger

  • small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area;
  • 14,260 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned

Nigeria

  • above-average system limited by poor maintenance;
  • major expansion in progress;
  • radio relay and cable routes;
  • broadcast stations - 35 AM, 17 FM, 28 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 20 domestic stations;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable

Reunion

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

Rwanda

  • fair system with low-capacity radio relay system centered on Kigali;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 (7 repeaters) FM, no TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

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

  • 1,500 radio receivers;
  • broadcast 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 submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Sao Tome and Principe

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

Senegal

  • above-average urban system, using microwave and cable;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • USAF tracking station

Sierra Leone

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

Somalia

  • minimal telephone and telegraph service;
  • microwave and troposcatter system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns;
  • 6,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • scheduled to receive an ARABSAT ground 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;
  • over 4,500,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV;
  • 1 submarine cable;
  • satellite 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 by modern standards;
  • consists of microwave, cable, radio communications, and troposcatter;
  • domestic satellite system with 14 stations;
  • broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

Tanzania

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

Togo

  • fair system based on network of radio relay routes supplemented by open wire lines;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 3 (2 relays) TV;
  • satellite 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, coaxial cable, and radio relay;
  • key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
  • 233,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 7 AM, 8 FM, 19 TV;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT with back-up control station;
  • coaxial cable to Algeria and Libya;
  • radio relay to Algeria, and Libya

Uganda

  • fair system with microwave and radio communications stations;
  • broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
  • satellite communications ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Western Sahara

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

Zambia

  • facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa;
  • high-capacity microwave connects most larger towns and cities;
  • broadcast stations - 11 AM, 5 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 microwave links, open-wire lines, and radio communications stations;
  • 247,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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 microwave;
  • 17,900 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters) FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Iceland

  • adequate domestic service;
  • coaxial and fiber-optical cables and radio relay for trunk network;
  • 135,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 19 AM, 30 (43 repeaters) FM, 13 (132 repeaters) TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries majority of international traffic

Jan Mayen

radio and meteorological station

Svalbard

  • 5 meteorological/radio stations;
  • local telephone service;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV;
  • satellite communication with Norwegian mainland

Asia

23 entries

Afghanistan

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

Armenia

  • Armenia has about 260,000 telephones, of which about 110,000 are in Yerevan;
  • average telephone density is 8 per 100 persons;
  • international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch;
  • broadcast stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs;
  • satellite earth station - INTELSAT

Azerbaijan

  • quality of local telephone service is poor;
  • connections to other former USSR republics by landline or microwave and to countries beyond the former USSR via the Moscow international gateway switch;
  • Azeri and Russian TV broadcasts are received;
  • Turkish and Iranian TV broadcasts are received from INTELSAT through a TV receive-only earth station

Bangladesh

  • adequate international radio communications and landline service;
  • fair domestic wire and microwave service;
  • fair broadcast service;
  • 241,250 telephones;
  • broadcast 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);
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)

British Indian Ocean Territory

  • minimal facilities;
  • broadcast stations (operated by 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);
  • broadcast stations - 274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050 repeaters) 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

Georgia

  • poor telephone service;
  • 339,000 unsatisfied applications for telephones (31 January 1992);
  • international links via landline to CIS members and Turkey;
  • low capacity satellite earth station and leased international connections via the Moscow international gateway switch

India

  • poor domestic telephone service, international radio communications adequate;
  • 4,700,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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 Russia

Kazakhstan

  • telephone service is poor, with only about 6 telephones for each 100 persons;
  • of the approximately 1 million telephones, Alma-Ata has 184,000;
  • international traffic with other former USSR republics and China carried by landline and microwave, and with other countries by satellite and through the Moscow international gateway switch;
  • satellite earth stations - INTELSAT and Orbita

Korea, North now North Korea

  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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

Kyrgyzstan

  • poorly developed;
  • connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch;
  • satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)

Maldives

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

Mongolia

  • 63,000 telephones (1989);
  • broadcast stations - 12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial repeaters);
  • repeat of Russian TV;
  • 120,000 TVs;
  • 220,000 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);
  • broadcast stations - 88 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Pakistan

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

Russia

  • the telephone system is inadequate for a large industrial country, consisting of about 36 million lines of which only about 3% are switched automatically;
  • as of 31 January 1990, 10.8 million applications for telephones for household use could not be satisfied;
  • telephone density is 11 per 100 persons;
  • international connections are made via satellite, land line, microwave, and outdated submarine cables, and are generally unsatisfactory;
  • the international gateway switch in Moscow handles international traffic for the other former Soviet republics as well as for Russia;
  • broadcast stations - 1,050 AM/FM/SW (reach 98.6% of population), 310 TV (580 repeaters) (reach 98% of population);
  • satellite ground stations - INTELSAT, Intersputnik, INMARSAT, Orbita

Sri Lanka

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

Tajikistan

  • poorly developed;
  • telephone density NA;
  • linked by landline or microwave with other CIS member states and by leased connections via the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries;
  • satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)

Turkmenistan

  • poorly developed;
  • telephone density NA;
  • linked by landline or microwave to other CIS member states and Iran, and by leased connections via the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries;
  • satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)

Uzbekistan

  • poorly developed;
  • telephone density NA;
  • linked by landline or microwave with CIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries;
  • satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)

Central America and the Caribbean

31 entries

Anguilla

  • modern internal telephone system;
  • 890 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station *** No entry for this item ***

Barbados

  • islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones;
  • tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Costa Rica

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

Cuba

  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

Dominican Republic

  • relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave relay network;
  • 190,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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 radio links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent;
  • VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad and Carriacou;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Guadeloupe

  • domestic facilities inadequate;
  • 57,300 telephones;
  • interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Honduras

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

Jamaica

  • fully automatic domestic telephone network;
  • 127,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Montserrat

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

Netherlands Antilles

  • generally adequate facilities;
  • extensive interisland radio relay links;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • 220,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 23 TV;
  • 1 coaxial submarine cable;
  • satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Puerto Rico

  • 900,000 or 99% of total households have TV;
  • 1,067,787 telephones (1988);
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV

Saint Lucia

  • fully automatic telephone system;
  • 9,500 telephones;
  • direct microwave link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
  • interisland troposcatter link to Barbados;
  • broadcast 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 from Saint Vincent to Barbados and the Grenadines;
  • new SHF links to Grenada and Saint Lucia;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, no FM, several TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Virgin Islands

  • 44,280 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV;
  • modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite facilities;
  • 98,000 radios;
  • 63,000 TV (1988)

Europe

45 entries

Albania

  • inadequate service;
  • 15,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 13 AM, 1 TV;
  • 514,000 radios, 255,000 TVs (1987 est.)

Andorra

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

Austria

  • highly developed and efficient;
  • 4,014,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV;
  • satellite ground stations for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

Belarus

  • telephone network has 1.7 million lines, 15% of which are switched automatically;
  • Minsk has 450,000 lines;
  • telephone density is approximately 17 per 100 persons;
  • as of 31 January 1990, 721,000 applications from households for telephones were still unsatisfied;
  • international connections to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch

Belgium

  • highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities;
  • extensive cable network;
  • limited radio relay network;
  • 4,720,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • 2 satellite earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems;
  • nationwide mobile phone system

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Bosnia's telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion, many urban areas being below average compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics;
  • 727,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 9 AM, 2 FM, 6 (0 repeaters) TV;
  • 840,000 radios;
  • 1,012,094 TVs;
  • NA submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite ground stations - none

Bulgaria

  • extensive radio relay;
  • 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);
  • broadcast stations - 20 AM, 15 FM, and 29 TV, with 1 Soviet TV repeater in Sofia;
  • 2.1 million TV sets (1990);
  • 92% of country receives No. 1 television program (May 1990);
  • 1 satellite ground station using Intersputnik;
  • INTELSAT is used through a Greek earth station

Croatia

  • 350,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 14 AM, 8 FM, 12 (2 repeaters) TV;
  • 1,100,000 radios;
  • 1,027,000 TVs;
  • NA submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite ground stations - none

Czechoslovakia

  • inadequate circuit capacity;
  • 4 million telephones;
  • Radrel backbone of network;
  • 25% of households have a telephone;
  • broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM, 41 TV (11 Soviet TV repeaters);
  • 4.4 million TVs (1990);
  • 1 satellite earth station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik

Denmark

  • excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast services;
  • 4,509,000 telephones;
  • buried and submarine cables and radio relay support trunk network;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 50 TV;
  • 19 submarine coaxial cables;
  • 7 earth stations operating in INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, and INMARSAT

Estonia

  • telephone diversity - NA;
  • broadcast stations - 3 TV (provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs);
  • international traffic is carried to the other former USSR republics by landline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, by the Finnish cellular net, and by an old copper submarine cable to Finland

Faroe Islands

  • good international communications;
  • fair domestic facilities;
  • 27,900 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 105 FM, 235 TV;
  • 1 submarine cable;
  • INTELSAT satellite transmission service via Swedish earth station and a receive-only INTELSAT earth station near Helsinki

France

  • highly developed;
  • extensive cable and radio relay networks;
  • large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems;
  • satellite systems for domestic traffic;
  • 39,200,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 41 AM, 800 (mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV;
  • 24 submarine coaxial cables;
  • 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for the Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT);
  • HF radio communications with more than 20 countries;
  • INMARSAT service;
  • EUTELSAT TV service

Germany

  • West - highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of the country;
  • fully adequate in all respects;
  • 40,300,000 telephones;
  • intensively developed, highly redundant cable and radio relay networks, all completely automatic;
  • broadcast stations - 80 AM, 470 FM, 225 (6,000 repeaters) TV;
  • 6 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 12 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas, EUTELSAT, and domestic systems;
  • 2 HF radiocommunication centers;
  • tropospheric links East - badly needs modernization;
  • 3,970,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters);
  • 6,181,860 TVs;
  • 6,700,000 radios;
  • 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and Intersputnik systems

Gibraltar

  • adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international radiocommunication and microwave facilities;
  • 9,400 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Greece

  • adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
  • 4,080,000 telephones;
  • microwave carries most traffic;
  • extensive open-wire network;
  • submarine cables to off-shore islands;
  • broadcast stations - 29 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 361 TV;
  • tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables;
  • 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna), and EUTELSAT systems

Guernsey

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

Holy See (Vatican City)

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

Hungary

  • automatic telephone network based on radio relay system;
  • 1.9 million phones;
  • 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);
  • broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM, 41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters);
  • 4.2 million TVs (1990);
  • 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik

Ireland

  • small, modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits;
  • 900,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV;
  • 2 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Man, Isle of now Isle of Man

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

Italy

  • modern, well-developed, fast;
  • 25,600,000 telephones;
  • fully automated telephone, telex, and data services;
  • high-capacity cable and radio relay trunks;
  • very good broadcast service by stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters) FM, 83 (1,000 repeaters) TV;
  • international service by 21 submarine cables;
  • 3 satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3 Atlantic Ocean antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas;
  • also participates in INMARSAT and EUTELSAT systems

Jersey

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

Latvia

broadcast stations - NA; international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and the Finnish cellular net

Liechtenstein

  • limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system;
  • 25,400 telephones;
  • linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay for international telephone, radio, and TV services

Lithuania

  • better developed than in most other former USSR republics;
  • 22.4 telephones per 100 persons;
  • broadcast stations - 13 AM, 26 FM, 1 SW, 1 LW, 3 TV;
  • landlines or microwave to former USSR republics;
  • leased connection to the Moscow international switch for traffic with other countries;
  • satellite earth stations - (8 channels to Norway)

Luxembourg

  • highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables;
  • 230,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
  • 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable;
  • 1 direct-broadcast satellite earth station;
  • nationwide mobile phone system

Malta

  • automatic system satisfies normal requirements;
  • 153,000 telephones;
  • excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV;
  • submarine cable and radio relay between islands;
  • international service by 1 submarine cable;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Moldova

  • poorly supplied with telephones;
  • 215,000 unsatisfied applications for telephone installations (31 January 1990);
  • connected to Ukraine by landline and countries beyond the former USSR through the switching center in Moscow

Monaco

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

Netherlands

  • highly developed, well maintained, and integrated;
  • extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by radio relay links;
  • 9,418,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 (3 relays) AM, 12 (39 repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV;
  • 5 submarine cables;
  • 1 communication satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems;
  • nationwide mobile phone system

Macedonia now North Macedonia

  • 125,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 2 FM, 5 (2 relays) TV;
  • 370,000 radios, 325,000 TV;
  • satellite communications ground stations - none

Norway

  • high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services;
  • 2 buried coaxial cable systems;
  • 3,102,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 46 AM, 350 private and 143 government FM, 54 (2,100 repeaters) TV;
  • 4 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 3 communications satellite earth stations operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

Poland

  • severely underdeveloped and outmoded system;
  • cable, open wire and microwave;
  • phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents (October 1990);
  • 3.1 million subscribers;
  • exchanges are 86% automatic (February 1990);
  • broadcast stations - 27 AM, 27 FM, 40 (5 Soviet repeaters) TV;
  • 9.6 million TVs;
  • 1 satellite earth station using INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT and Intersputnik

Portugal

  • generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire and radio relay;
  • 2,690,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 57 AM, 66 (22 repeaters) FM, 66 (23 repeaters) TV;
  • 6 submarine cables;
  • 3 INTELSAT earth stations (2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, domestic satellite systems (mainland and Azores);
  • tropospheric link to Azores

Romania

  • poor service;
  • about 2.3 million telephone customers;
  • 89% of phone network is automatic;
  • cable and open wire;
  • trunk network is microwave;
  • present phone density is 9.85 per 100 residents;
  • roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990);
  • broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 13 TV (1990);
  • 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT

San Marino

  • automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system;
  • 11,700 telephones;
  • broadcast services from Italy;
  • microwave and cable links into Italian networks;
  • no communication satellite facilities

Serbia and Montenegro

  • 700,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 26 AM, 9 FM, 18 TV;
  • 2,015,000 radios;
  • 1,000,000 TVs;
  • satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Slovenia

  • 130,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV;
  • 370,000 radios;
  • 330,000 TVs

Spain

  • generally adequate, modern facilities;
  • 15,350,464 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV;
  • 22 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 2 communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean);
  • MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems;
  • tropospheric links

Sweden

  • excellent domestic and international facilities;
  • 8,200,000 telephones;
  • mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network;
  • parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone channels;
  • automatic system;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV;
  • 5 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

Switzerland

  • excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services;
  • 5,890,000 telephones;
  • extensive cable and microwave networks;
  • broadcast stations - 7 AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV;
  • communications satellite earth station operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system

Ukraine

  • inheriting part of the former USSR system, Ukraine has about 7 million telephone lines (13.5 telephones for each 100 persons);
  • as of 31 January 1990, 3.56 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied;
  • international calls can be made via satellite, by landline to other CIS countries, and through the Moscow international switching center;
  • satellite earth stations employ INTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik

United Kingdom

  • technologically advanced domestic and international system;
  • 30,200,000 telephones;
  • equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber systems;
  • excellent countrywide broadcast systems;
  • broadcast stations - 225 AM, 525 (mostly repeaters) FM, 207 (3,210 repeaters) TV;
  • 40 coaxial submarine cables;
  • 5 satellite ground stations operating in INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and EUTELSAT systems;
  • at least 8 large international switching centers

Middle East

17 entries

Bahrain

  • excellent international telecommunications;
  • good domestic services;
  • 98,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
  • tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE, and microwave to Saudi Arabia;
  • submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia

Cyprus

  • excellent in both the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), and in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area;
  • 210,000 telephones;
  • largely open-wire and radio relay;
  • broadcast stations - 11 AM, 8 FM, 1 (34 repeaters) TV in Greek sector and 2 AM, 6 FM and 1 TV in Turkish sector;
  • international service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables, and satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT earth stations

Gaza Strip

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

Iran

  • radio relay extends throughout country;
  • system centered in Tehran;
  • 2,143,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 77 AM, 3 FM, 28 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • HF radio and radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan

Iraq

  • reconstitution of damaged telecommunication infrastructure began after Desert Storm;
  • the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave links;
  • 632,000 telephones;
  • the network is operational;
  • broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT;
  • coaxial cable and microwave to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey

Israel

  • most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest;
  • good system of coaxial cable and radio relay;
  • 1,800,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Jordan

  • adequate telephone system of microwave, cable, and radio links;
  • 81,500 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 8 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic TV receive-only;
  • coaxial cable and microwave to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria;
  • microwave link to Lebanon is inactive;
  • participates in a microwave network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

Kuwait

  • civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of Desert Storm;
  • reconstruction is under way with some restored international and domestic capabilities;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - destroyed during Persian Gulf war;
  • temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international telecommunications;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Saudi Arabia;
  • service to Iraq is nonoperational

Lebanon

  • rebuilding program disrupted;
  • had fair system of microwave relay, cable;
  • 325,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM (numerous AM and FM radio stations are operated inconsistently by various factions), 13 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station, erratic operations;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • radio relay to Jordan inoperable, but operational to Syria, coaxial cable to Syria

Oman

  • fair system of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations;
  • limited coaxial cable 50,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 7 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 and UAE;
  • submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT

Saudi Arabia

  • good system with extensive microwave and coaxial and fiber optic cable systems;
  • 1,624,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 43 AM, 13 FM, 80 TV;
  • radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan;
  • coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
  • submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain;
  • earth stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 INMARSAT

Syria

  • fair system currently undergoing significant improvement;
  • 512,600 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik, 1 submarine cable;
  • coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey

Turkey now Turkiye

  • fair domestic and international systems;
  • trunk radio relay network;
  • limited open wire network;
  • 3,400,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 15 AM;
  • 94 FM;
  • 357 TV;
  • 1 satellite ground station operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems;
  • 1 submarine cable

United Arab Emirates

  • adequate system of microwave and coaxial cable;
  • key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy;
  • 386,600 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • microwave to Saudi Arabia

West Bank

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

Yemen

  • since unification in 1990, efforts are being made to create a national domestic civil telecommunications network and to revitalize the infrastructure of a united Yemen;
  • the network consists of microwave, cable and troposcatter;
  • 65,000 telephones (est.);
  • broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 10 TV;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT;
  • microwave to Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti

North America

5 entries

Bermuda

  • modern with fully automatic telephone system;
  • 52,670 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • privatized in December 1990;
  • connected into Central America Microwave System;
  • 6,410,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
  • radio communication with most countries in the world;
  • 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

United States

  • 182,558,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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 ground stations - 45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Oceania

28 entries

American Samoa

  • 6,500 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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

Baker Island

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Cook Islands

  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Guam

  • 26,317 telephones (1989);
  • broadcast 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, and UHF/VHF air-ground radio, marine VHF/FM Channel 16

Kiribati

  • 1,400 telephones;
  • broadcast 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);
  • broadcast 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

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

Nauru

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

New Caledonia

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

New Zealand

  • excellent international and domestic systems;
  • 2,110,000 telephones;
  • broadcast 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.);
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Norfolk Island

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

Northern Mariana Islands

broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the now Palau

broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 2 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);
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • diesel generator provides electricity

Western Samoa now Samoa

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

Solomon Islands

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

Tuvalu

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

Vanuatu

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

Wake Island

  • underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu;
  • 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS);
  • Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Wallis and Futuna

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

South America

14 entries

Argentina

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

Bolivia

  • radio relay system being expanded;
  • improved international services;
  • 144,300 telephones;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave;
  • 3 coaxial submarine cables, 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and 64 domestic satellite earth stations

Chile

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

Colombia

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

Ecuador

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

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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Peru

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

Suriname

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

Uruguay

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

Venezuela

  • modern and expanding;
  • 1,440,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave;
  • 3 submarine coaxial cables;
  • satellite 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);
  • broadcast 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;
  • 53,000 telephones (1986);
  • radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Christmas Island

4,000 radios (1982)

Cocos Islands now Cocos (Keeling) Islands

  • 250 radios (1985);
  • linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV;
  • 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 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);
  • broadcast 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 communications network provides generally erratic service to government users;
  • 7,390 telephones (1986);
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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 radio 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);
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast 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;
  • broadcast stations - 91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 repeaters);
  • 8,620,000 radios;
  • 6,386,000 TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome);
  • satellite 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);
  • broadcast 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

  • 25 telephones per 10,000 persons (1991);
  • broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV;
  • 2,300,000 TV sets;
  • 6,000,000 radio receivers;
  • 3 satellite earth stations

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

submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and Malaysia

Pacific Ocean

several submarine cables with network focused on Guam and Hawaii

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 1992, “Telecommunication systems”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/telecommunication-systems/1992.

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