Telecommunication systems In 35 editions of 36.

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

domestic:

good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)

international:

• 5 submarine cables;
• microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia;
• coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia;
• participant in Medarabtel;
• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links

domestic:

limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable

sparse system

domestic:

small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations

international:

microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

all services only fair

domestic:

microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

primitive system

domestic:

sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

domestic:

• interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges;
• work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998

international:

• 2 coaxial submarine cables;
• HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

available only to business and government

domestic:

cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

fair system

domestic:

network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

primitive system

domestic:

fair system of radiotelephone communication stations

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations

domestic:

HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay

international:

HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

domestic:

barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

• services barely adequate for government use;
• key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
• inter-city lines frequently out-of-order

domestic:

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity

domestic:

open-wire lines and microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables

telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country

domestic:

microwave radio relay network

international:

• submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
• Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network

large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading

domestic:

principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

international:

• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat;
• 5 coaxial submarine cables;
• tropospheric scatter to Sudan;
• microwave radio relay to Israel;
• participant in Medarabtel

poor system with adequate government services

domestic:

NA

international:

international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

domestic:

• very inadequate;
• about 4 telephones per 100 families, most of which are in Asmara;
• government is seeking international tenders to improve the system

international:

NA

domestic:

• system consists of carrier-equipped,
• open-wire lines and low-capacity,
• microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use

domestic:

open wire and microwave radio relay

international:

• open wire to Sudan and Djibouti;
• microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti;
• satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

domestic:

adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations

international:

satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire

international:

microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

poor to fair system

domestic:

primarily microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system

domestic:

microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

small system

domestic:

combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications

international:

NA

domestic:

primarily microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat

rudimentary system

domestic:

consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

telecommunications system is being modernized; cellular telephone system became operational in 1996

domestic:

microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

international:

• satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik;
• submarine cables to France and Italy;
• microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
• tropospheric scatter to Greece;
• participant in Medarabtel

system is above average for Africa

domestic:

open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links

international:

submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

domestic:

fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service

domestic:

network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)

domestic:

mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

small system with good service

domestic:

primarily microwave radio relay

international:

• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
• new microwave link to Reunion;
• HF radiotelephone links to several countries

small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications

domestic:

NA

international:

microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other international connections

domestic:

• good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links;
• principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat;
• secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan

international:

• 5 submarine cables;
• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
• microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
• coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria;
• participant in Medarabtel

fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay

domestic:

microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter

international:

satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

domestic:

• good urban services;
• fair rural service;
• microwave radio relay links major towns;
• connections to other populated places are by open wire

international:

NA

note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area

domestic:

wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress

domestic:

intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications satellite system with 20 earth stations

international:

satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis

domestic:

modern open wire and microwave radio relay network

international:

• radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
• new microwave route to Mauritius;
• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

telephone system primarily serves business and government

domestic:

• the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay;
• the remainder of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone

international:

• international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

domestic:

automatic network; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks

international:

major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

minimal system

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system

international:

4 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

international:

direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

marginal telephone and telegraph service

domestic:

national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

• the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;
• all relief organizations depend on their own private systems

domestic:

recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers

international:

international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa

domestic:

• consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations;
• key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria

international:

1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

• large,
• well-equipped system by African standards,
• but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards

domestic:

consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

fair system operating below capacity

domestic:

• open wire,
• microwave radio relay,
• tropospheric scatter

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

fair system based on network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and cellular system

domestic:

microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

• the system is above the African average and is continuing to be upgraded;
• key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
• Internet access is available through two private service providers licensed by the government

domestic:

trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay

international:

• 5 submarine cables;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station;
• coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya;
• participant in Medarabtel

• fair system but in serious need of expansion and better maintenance;
• a cellular system has been introduced as a stopgap but the communications problems will not be solved without substantial investment in the conventional telephone infrastructure;
• e-mail and Internet services are available

domestic:

intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communications stations, cellular system for short range traffic

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

sparse and limited system

domestic:

NA

international:

• tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite;
• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco

facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa

domestic:

high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance

domestic:

consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communication stations

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

domestic:

NA

international:

coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995

domestic:

microwave radio relay

international:

2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

adequate domestic service

domestic:

the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links

international:

• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions);
• note--Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

domestic:

local telephone service

international:

satellite earth station--1 of NA type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)

domestic:

• very limited telephone and telegraph service;
• in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems

international:

• satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
• commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni

• the Ministry of Communications oversees the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications;
• the national operator is Armentel;
• the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will provide a $60 million eight-year loan;
• Armenia has about 4,000 Internet users on one satellite channel

domestic:

• local--350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan;
• a fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's customers;
• GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging;
• intercity--the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000 numbers mostly governmental

international:

• Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line through Iran;
• additional international service is available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch;
• 1 INTELSAT earth station

• Azerbaijani telecommunications fall under the Ministry of Communications;
• Azerbaijan's telephone system is a combination of old Soviet era technology used by Azerbaijani citizens and small- to medium-size commercial establishments, and modern cellular phones used by an increasing middle class, large commercial ventures, international companies, and most government officials;
• the average citizen waits on a 200,000-person list for telephone service;
• Internet and E-mail service are available in Baku

domestic:

• local--the majority of telephones are in Baku or other industrial centers;
• intercity--about 700 villages still do not have public phone service;
• all long distance service must use Azertel's (Ministry of Communications) lines;
• satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its separated enclave to Nakhichevan

international:

• the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable;
• satellite service between Baku and Turkey provides access to 200 countries;
• additional satellite providers supply services between Baku and specific countries;
• Azerbaijan is a signator of the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE);
• their lines are not laid but the Turkish satellite and a microwave between Azerbaijan and Iran can provide Azerbaijan worldwide access through this system

domestic:

poor domestic telephone service

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries

domestic:

domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use

international:

international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

facilities for military needs only

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

• domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use;
• unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and all townships

domestic:

interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place

international:

• satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions);
• several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany

domestic:

• local--T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks with about 10,000 customers total;
• urban areas 20 telephones/100 people;
• rural areas 4 phones/100 people;
• intercity--a fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second largest city);
• nationwide pager service

international:

• Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia);
• present international service is available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch;
• international electronic mail and telex service available

• mediocre;
• local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas;
• major objective is to continue to expand and modernize long-distance network in order to keep pace with rapidly growing number of local subscriber lines;
• steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but demand for communication services is also growing rapidly

domestic:

• local service is provided by microwave radio relay and coaxial cable, with open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems still in use in rural areas;
• starting in the 1980s, a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local- and long-distance service;
• long-distance traffic is carried mostly by coaxial cable and low-capacity microwave radio relay;
• since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system with 254 earth stations;
• cellular telephone service in four metropolitan cities

international:

• satellite earth stations--8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region);
• four gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, and Chennai;
• submarine cables to Malaysia, UAE, Singapore, and Japan

excellent domestic and international service

domestic:

NA

international:

• satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions);
• submarine cables to China, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam)

service is poor

domestic:

landline and microwave radio relay; AMPS standard cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan

international:

• international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and a new digital satellite earth station established at Almaty;
• a third satellite earth station at Atyrau provides teleconnectivity to the AT&T network via Intelsat;
• cable connected by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

domestic:

• system is being expanded with installation of fiber-optic cable nationwide;
• access traditionally reserved for official and business subscribers;
• public access is expected to increase

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing

excellent domestic and international services

domestic:

NA

international:

fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones

domestic:

principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, probably only limited to Bishkek region

international:

• connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat;
• connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

minimal domestic and international facilities

domestic:

inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service

domestic:

NA

international:

radiotelephone communications; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

• the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
• service is adequate for government and business use, in part because major businesses have established their own private systems;
• since 1988, the government has promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly increasing network capacity;
• despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population

domestic:

microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite

international:

• satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean);
• 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad);
• microwave radio relay to neighboring countries

• the telephone system has undergone significant changes in the 1990's;
• there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services;
• access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers;
• Internet and e-mail services are improving;
• Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy

domestic:

• cross country digital trunk lines run from St. Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk;
• the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures;
• cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas;
• in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density

international:

• Russia is connected internationally by three undersea fiber-optic cables;
• digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls;
• satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita

very inadequate domestic service, but expanding with the entry of two wireless loop operators and privatization of national telephone company; good international service

domestic:

NA

international:

submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network

domestic:

cable and microwave radio relay

international:

• linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch;
• Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey);
• satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat

poorly developed

domestic:

NA

international:

• linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch;
• a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established;
• a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
• satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat

poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in telecommunications modernization

domestic:

in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard

international:

• linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch;
• new Intelsat links to Tokyo (Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities;
• satellite earth stations--NA Orbita and NA Intelsat;
• Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

domestic:

modern internal telephone system

international:

microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

domestic:

good automatic telephone system

international:

• 1 coaxial submarine cable;
• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
• tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

domestic:

more than adequate

international:

1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

domestic:

• 91,183 telephone subscribers;
• totally automatic system;
• highly developed

international:

• tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
• 3 coaxial submarine cables;
• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

island wide automatic telephone system

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

above-average system

domestic:

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

worldwide telephone service

domestic:

NA

international:

submarine cable to Bermuda

domestic:

NA

international:

1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

very good domestic telephone service

domestic:

NA

international:

connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

among the world's least developed telephone systems

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

domestic:

fully automatic network

international:

microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

domestic:

relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network

international:

1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

nationwide microwave radio relay system

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

automatic, islandwide telephone system

domestic:

interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links

international:

new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

domestic facilities inadequate

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique

fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

domestic:

NA

international:

connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

inadequate system

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

fully automatic domestic telephone network

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

domestic facilities are adequate

domestic:

NA

international:

microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

generally adequate facilities

domestic:

extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

international:

2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System

domestic:

wire and microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic and international facilities well developed

domestic:

NA

international:

• 1 coaxial submarine cable;
• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
• connected to the Central American Microwave System

modern system, integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability

domestic:

digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990 est.); cellular telephone service

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

domestic:

interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone

international:

international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat

domestic:

system is automatically switched

international:

• direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
• tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
• international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique

domestic:

islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines

international:

• VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;
• new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
• access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

excellent international service; good local service

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

fair cable and radiotelephone services

domestic:

NA

international:

2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

international:

submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations--NA

domestic:

• obsolete wire system;
• no longer provides a telephone for every village;
• in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences

international:

inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

domestic:

modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges

international:

landline circuits to France and Spain

domestic:

highly developed and efficient

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat

the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly

domestic:

• local--Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network;
• waiting lists for telephones are long;
• local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor;
• intercity--Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998);
• Belarus's fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries' systems;
• an inadequate analog system remains operational

international:

• Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL);
• three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine;
• worldwide service is available to Belarus due to this infrastructure;
• additional analog lines to Russia;
• Intelsat, Eutelsat and Intersputnik earth stations

highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities

domestic:

• nationwide cellular telephone system;
• extensive cable network;
• limited microwave radio relay network

international:

5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

• telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion;
• many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics

domestic:

NA

international:

no satellite earth stations

almost two-thirds of the lines are residential

domestic:

extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available in most villages

international:

• direct dialing to 36 countries;
• satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
• Intelsat available through a Greek earth station

domestic:

NA

international:

no satellite earth stations

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth stations--2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)

excellent telephone and telegraph services

domestic:

buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems

international:

• 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada;
• satellite earth stations--6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East);
• note--the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for world-wide Inmarsat access

• the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
• Internet services available throughout most of the country;
• about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests

domestic:

• local--cellular phones services are growing and expanding to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
• intercity--Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998)

international:

• foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service;
• fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet switched service

good international communications; good domestic facilities

domestic:

digitalization was to hve been completed in 1998

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland

modern system with excellent service

domestic:

cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net care for domestic needs

international:

• 1 submarine cable;
• satellite earth stations--access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions);
• note--Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

highly developed

domestic:

• extensive cable and microwave radio relay;
• extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable;
• domestic satellite system

international:

• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas--2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region);
• HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries

• Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems;
• as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part

domestic:

• the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system;
• cellular telephone service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries;
• since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys all of the advantages of the national system

international:

• satellite earth stations--14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean region);
• 7 submarine cable connections;
• 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers;
• tropospheric scatter links

adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities

domestic:

automatic exchange facilities

international:

• radiotelephone;
• microwave radio relay;
• satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

• adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
• microwave radio relay carries most traffic;
• extensive open-wire network;
• submarine cables to off-shore islands

domestic:

microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable

international:

• tropospheric scatter;
• 8 submarine cables;
• satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

domestic:

NA

international:

1 submarine cable

automatic exchange

domestic:

tied into Italian system

international:

uses Italian system

• 14,213 telex lines;
• automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system;
• the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990s);
• note--the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines

domestic:

microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay

domestic:

microwave radio relay

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services

domestic:

high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks

international:

satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas--3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables

domestic:

NA

international:

3 submarine cables

• Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns;
• 50,000 people are on the waiting list to receive telephone service;
• Internet service is available throughout Latvia