The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2024 Africa
Telecommunication systems Gabon, in 35 editions.
The entry for Gabon published Telecommunication systems in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2024. The text changed in 24 editions. Each is shown as published. Telecommunication systems in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 24
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2024
Published as “Telecommunications” (1990 to 1994), “Telephone system” (1995 to 2019) and “Telecommunication systems” (2020 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2024 edition
Same as 2023The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- adequate system of open-wire, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations;
- 13,800 telephones;
- stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV;
- satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite
adequate system of open-wire, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations; 13,800 telephones; stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- 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
adequate system of open-wire, cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and
radiocommunication stations; 13,800 15,000 telephones; stations--6 broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6
FM, 8 3 (5 repeaters) TV; satellite earth stations--2 stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
and 12 domestic satellite
Published as “Telecommunications”
- 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
adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and
radiocommunication stations; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6
AM, 6
Ocean INTELSAT
Published as “Telephone system”
15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000 persons
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- adequate system, comprising cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication stations, and 12 domestic satellite links
- international:
- 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Rewritten: too little of the 1994 text remains to mark the changes.
15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000
persons
local: NA
intercity: adequate system, comprising cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication stations, and 12 domestic
satellite links
international: 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
The same text in 1996 and 1997.
Published as “Telephone system”
- 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)
15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000 domestic: adequate
persons
local: NA
intercity:system, comprising system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication radiotelephone communication stations, and 12 domestic a
domestic satellite links system with 12 earth stations
international: 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- 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 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 stations-3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- 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 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 stations--3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- 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 system of cable, microwave radio relay,
international: satellite earth stations--3 stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- NA 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)
general assessment: NA domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
- 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); fiber optic submarine cable to be in service in 2002
general assessment: NA adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
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) Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable to be in service in 2002
The same text in 3 editions, 2004 to 2006.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
- domestic:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- international:
- country code - 241;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
- fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to be in service in 2002 Europe and Asia
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with three providers;
- mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2006
- domestic:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the a growing mobile cell network system with three providers; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2006
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers;
- mobile-cellular subscribership reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007
- domestic:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with three multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 50 reached 80 per 100 persons in 2006 2007
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers;
- mobile-cellular subscribership reached nearly 90 per 100 persons in 2008
- domestic:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
general assessment:
adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 80 nearly 90 per 100 persons in 2007 2008
domestic:
adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international:
country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007) (2008)
The same text in 2010 and 2011.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- domestic:
- a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
general assessment:
adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached nearly 90 per 100 persons in 2008 of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic:
adequate system
domestic:
a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009
international:
country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008) (2009)
The same text in 3 editions, 2012 to 2014.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- domestic:
- a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
general assessment:
adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic:
a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership reached 90 available with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons in 2009
international:
country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009) (2011)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- domestic:
- a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
general assessment:
domestic:mobile-cellular mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile-cellular mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons
international:
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- domestic:
- a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 170 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 100 170 per 100 persons
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011) (2015)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
- domestic:
- a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity approaching 150 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 170 approaching 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015) (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations;
- competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2017)
- domestic:
- fiixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 150 per 100 persons (2017)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
- sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable and ACE submarine cable;
- Airtel Gabon opens submarine link between Libreville and Port-Gentil (2017)
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations stations; competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2017)
domestic: fiixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity approaching at 150 per 100 persons (2017)
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016) Ocean); sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable and ACE submarine cable; Airtel Gabon opens submarine link between Libreville and Port-Gentil (2017)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations;
- competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2018)
- domestic:
- fiixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 150 per 100 persons (2018)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations; competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2017) (2018)
domestic: fiixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 150 per 100 persons (2017) (2018)
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable and ACE submarine cable; Airtel Gabon opens submarine link between Libreville and Port-Gentil (2017) Ocean) (2019)
- general assessment:
- fixed-line and Internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices;
- sufficient international bandwidth due to submarine cable systems, but monopolized by Gabon Telecom;
- 3G and mobile LTE services and mobile broadband available;
- govt. commits to XAF 150 billion in backbone infrastructure work through 2020;
- efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 per 100 persons (2019)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed-line and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations; Internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to the lack of competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction high prices; sufficient international bandwidth due to submarine cable systems, but monopolized by Gabon Telecom; 3G and mobile LTE services and mobile broadband available; govt. commits to XAF 150 billion in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2018) backbone infrastructure work through 2020; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)
domestic: fiixed-line fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 150 138 per 100 persons (2018) (2019)
international: country code - 241; landing point points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
- general assessment:
- politically stable and oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa;
- liberalized and competitive market led development of mobile broadband, data service, and tests of 5G;
- fixed-line sector underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices;
- South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone;
- sufficient international bandwidth through submarine cable systems;
- government committed to backbone infrastructure and e-health services;
- efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 per 100 persons (2019)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
general assessment: fixed-line politically stable and Internet sectors have remained oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa; liberalized and competitive market led development of mobile broadband, data service, and tests of 5G; fixed-line sector underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone; sufficient international bandwidth due to through submarine cable systems, but monopolized by Gabon Telecom; 3G and mobile LTE services and mobile broadband available; govt. commits systems; government committed to XAF 150 billion in backbone infrastructure work through 2020; and e-health services; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)
domestic: fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect consequent restriction on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable services as a tool for work and satellite - has moderated school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
- general assessment:
- the telecom market was liberalized in 1999 when the government awarded three mobile telephony licenses and two ISP licenses and established an independent regulatory authority;
- in contrast with the mobile market, Gabon’s fixed-line and internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to a lack of competition and high prices;
- the country has sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable;
- the arrival of the ACE submarine cable, combined with progressing work on the CAB cable, has increased back haul capacity supporting mobile data traffic (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line is a little over 1 per 100 subscriptions;
- a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at nearly 139 per 100 persons (2020)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
general assessment: politically stable and oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa; liberalized and competitive the telecom market led development of was liberalized in 1999 when the government awarded three mobile broadband, data service, telephony licenses and tests of 5G; two ISP licenses and established an independent regulatory authority; in contrast with the mobile market, Gabon’s fixed-line sector and internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to the a lack of competition and high prices; South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone; the country has sufficient international bandwidth through on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable systems; government committed to backbone infrastructure and e-health services; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020) cable; the arrival of the ACE submarine cable, combined with progressing work on the CAB cable, has increased back haul capacity supporting mobile data traffic (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is a little over 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 nearly 139 per 100 persons (2019) (2020)
international: country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards toward 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and has increased due to the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became is still evident, and received some support from governments the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
The same text in 2023 and 2024.
- general assessment:
- the telecom market was liberalized in 1999 when the government awarded three mobile telephony licenses and two ISP licenses and established an independent regulatory authority;
- in contrast with the mobile market, Gabon’s fixed-line and internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to a lack of competition and high prices;
- the country has sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable;
- the arrival of the ACE submarine cable, combined with progressing work on the CAB cable, has increased back haul capacity supporting mobile data traffic (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line 1 per 100 subscriptions; mobile cellular subscriptions are 134 per 100 persons (2021)
- international:
- country code - 241;
- landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa;
- satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: the telecom market was liberalized in 1999 when the government awarded three mobile telephony licenses and two ISP licenses and established an independent regulatory authority; in contrast with the mobile market, Gabon’s fixed-line and internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to a lack of competition and high prices; the country has sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable; the arrival of the ACE submarine cable, combined with progressing work on the CAB cable, has increased back haul capacity supporting mobile data traffic (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is a little over 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at nearly 139 subscriptions are 134 per 100 persons (2020) (2021)
international: country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gabon: Telecommunication systems.” The World Factbook, 1990–2024 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gabon/telecommunication-systems.