general assessment: excellent domestic and international
service
domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of
radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of
mobile telephones
international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine
cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite
earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific
Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar,
5 other) (2007)
Austria
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the
mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the
late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone
applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in
addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals)
(2007)
Azerbaijan
general assessment: requires considerable expansion and
modernization; fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other
telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications
monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in
the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009
domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and is rapidly approaching
100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a
modern switch in its exclave of Nakhchivan
international: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international
connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of
cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations -
2 (2009)
Bahamas, The
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas
Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed
to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband internet
services
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable
that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)
Bahrain
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network
with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to
Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite
earth station - 1 (2007)
Bangladesh
general assessment: inadequate for a modern country;
introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF
microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been
increasing rapidly and now exceeds 30 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4
fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6;
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2009)
Barbados
general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat
-Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
(2009)
Belarus
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in
upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the
network progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment
now digital
domestic: state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line
local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity is improving
although rural areas continue to be underserved; multiple GSM
mobile-cellular networks are experiencing rapid growth;
mobile-cellular teledensity reached 100 telephones per 100 persons
in 2009
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the
Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line,
and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic
segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and
Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this
infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2008)
Belgium
general assessment: highly developed, technologically
advanced, and completely automated domestic and international
telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive
cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of
submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
Belize
general assessment: above-average system; trunk network
depends primarily on microwave radio relay
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 55 per 100 persons
international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and
Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth
station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2008)
Benin
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network
characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment
domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons;
spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers,
cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso,
Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic
Ocean) (2008)
Bermuda
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic
trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; landing points for the
GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, and the Challenger Bermuda-1
(CB-1)submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)
Bhutan
general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters
have telecommunications services
domestic: low teledensity; domestic service is poor especially in
rural areas; mobile-cellular service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and
telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2009)
Bolivia
general assessment: privatization begun in 1995; primary
trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave
radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; overall
reliability has steadily improved
domestic: most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other
cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in
2009, teledensity reached 75 per 100 persons; fixed-line teledensity
is low at less than 10 per 100 persons
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
general assessment: post-war reconstruction
of the telecommunications network, aided by a internationally
sponsored program under EBRD, resulting in sharp increases in the
number of fixed telephone lines available
domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 22 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and, in
2009, reached 70 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2009)
Botswana
general assessment: Botswana is participating in regional
development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic
cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a
system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and
now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
subscribership is rapidly approaching a teledensity of 100
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 267; international calls are made via
satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international
exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) (2008)
Brazil
general assessment: good working system including an
extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite
system with 64 earth stations; mobile-cellular usage has more than
tripled in the past 5 years
domestic: fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in
recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive
mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding
telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population
with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 90 per 100 persons in
2009
international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of
submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2,
GlobeNet, South Amrica-1, South American Crossing/Latin American
Nautilius, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and
Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to
Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2009)
British Indian Ocean Territory
general assessment: separate
facilities for military and public needs are available
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including
connection to the Internet
international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international
telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
British Virgin Islands
general assessment: worldwide telephone
service
domestic: fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and
mobile cellular subscribership is approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable
to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable
provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean
(2008)
Brunei
general assessment: service throughout the country is good;
international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East,
Western Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway
submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will
provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Bulgaria
general assessment: inherited an extensive but antiquated
telecommunications network from the Soviet era; quality has improved
with a modern digital trunk line now connecting switching centers in
most of the regions; remaining areas are connected by digital
microwave radio relay
domestic: the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line
monopoly terminated in 2005 in an effort to upgrade fixed-line
services; mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service
providers, approached 150 telephones per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable
and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania,
and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the
Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions) (2009)
Burkina Faso
general assessment: system includes microwave radio
relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006
the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone
company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in
the company
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is
increasing rapidly from a low base
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Burma
general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government
domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service;
mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped with a
subscribership base of only 1 per 100 persons
international: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2,
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2009)
Burundi
general assessment: sparse system of open-wire,
radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio
relays
domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world;
fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at a meager 10 per
100 persons
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Cambodia
general assessment: adequate fixed-line and/or cellular
service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-cellular
phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies
in the fixed-line network; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly
expanding in rural areas
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition
among service providers, is increasing and stands at 40 per 100
persons
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline
and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and
major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean region) (2009)
Cameroon
general assessment: system includes cable, microwave radio
relay, and tropospheric scatter; Camtel, the monopoly provider of
fixed-line service, provides connections for only about 1 per 100
persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many
parts of the country are unreliable
domestic: mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor
condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has
increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 40 per 100
persons
international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Canada
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern
technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic
Ocean region) (2007)
Cape Verde
general assessment: effective system, extensive
modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT);
fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing
Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in
1998; broadband services launched in 2004
international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2
fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to
South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2007)
Cayman Islands
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of
competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the MAYA-1,
Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber
System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of
Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Central African Republic
general assessment: network consists
principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered
radiotelephone communication
domestic: limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line
connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple
mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from
a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services
are concentrated in Bangui
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Chad
general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone
communication stations with high costs and low telephone density
domestic: fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons
coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 25
per 100 persons
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Chile
general assessment: privatization begun in 1988; most advanced
telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system
based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; domestic
satellite system with 3 earth stations
domestic: number of fixed-line connections have stagnated in recent
years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a
level of 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 56; landing points for the Pan
American, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin America
Nautilius submarine cables providing links to the US and to Central
and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) (2009)
China
general assessment: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
many towns; China continues to develop its telecommunications
infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand
its global reach; China in the summer of 2008 began a major
restructuring of its telecommunications industry, resulting in the
consolidation of its six telecom service operators to three, China
Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom, each providing both
fixed-line and mobile services
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; mobile-cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; the number of Internet users
exceeded 250 million by summer 2008; a domestic satellite system
with 55 earth stations is in place
international: country code - 86; a number of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat -
Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2008)
Christmas Island
general assessment: service provided by the
Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older
analog system in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
general assessment: connected within
Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular
network is in operation
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite
earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)
Colombia
general assessment: modern system in many respects with a
nationwide microwave radio relay system, a domestic satellite system
with 41 earth stations, and a fiber-optic network linking 50 cities;
telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple
providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons;
mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 90 per 100
persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting
in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to
the steep decline in the market share of fixed line services
international: country code - 57; landing points for the ARCOS,
Colombia-Florida Subsea Fiber (CFX-1), Maya-1, Pan American, and the
South America-1 submarine cables providing links to the US, parts of
the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth
stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized
international switching centers) (2009)
Comoros
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay
and HF radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons;
mobile cellular usage about 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications
to Madagascar and Reunion
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
general assessment: barely
adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban
areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; inadequate
fixed line infrastructure
domestic: state-owned operator providing less than 1 fixed-line
connection per 1000 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly
inadequate fixed-line infrastructure, the use of mobile-cellular
services has surged and subscribership in 2009 exceeded 10 million -
roughly 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Congo, Republic of the
general assessment: primary network consists
of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely
adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1
connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line
infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged and now
exceeds 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Cook Islands
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers
international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)