Libyageneral assessment: telecommunications system is state-ownedand service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; stateretains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephonesystem became operational in 1996domestic: multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that isgrowing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityis approaching 100 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to Franceand Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; troposphericscatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Liechtensteingeneral assessment: automatic telephone systemdomestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available;combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cableand microwave radio relay (2008)
Lithuaniageneral assessment: adequate; being modernized to provideimproved international capability and better residential accessdomestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resultedin a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections;mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 140 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 370; major international connectionsto Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for furthertransmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland(2008)
Luxembourggeneral assessment: highly developed, completelyautomated and efficient system, mainly buried cablesdomestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwidemobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellularphones virtually saturatedinternational: country code - 352 (2008)
Macaugeneral assessment: fairly modern communication facilitiesmaintained for domestic and international servicesdomestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephoneservices in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions withmobile-cellular teledensity approaching 200 per 100 persons in 2010;fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now indeclineinternational: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the MiddleEast, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2010)
Macedoniageneral assessment: competition from the mobile-cellularsegment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop infixed-line telephone subscriptionsdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephonesubscribership about 115 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 389 (2009)
Madagascargeneral assessment: system is above average for theregion; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in thelate 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system ispoorly developed; have been adding fixed line connections since 2005domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about30 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 261; SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cableand the Lion undersea cable connecting to Reunion and Mauritius;satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2009)
Malawigeneral assessment: rudimentary; privatization of MalawiTelecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvementto telecommunications services, completed in 2006domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverageis limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellularsubscribership about 15 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Malaysiageneral assessment: modern system featuring good intercityservice on Peninsular Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radiorelay and an adequate intercity microwave radio relay networkbetween Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service excellentdomestic: domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combinedfixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 135 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 60; landing point for several majorinternational submarine cable networks that provide connectivity toAsia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Maldivesgeneral assessment: telephone services have improved;interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabitedislands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax servicedomestic: each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and thereare mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribershipthat exceeds 100 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 960; linked to international submarinecable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earthstation - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Maligeneral assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage toremote areasdomestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply tonearly 30 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 223; satellite communications centerand fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earthstations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Maltageneral assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cableand microwave radio relay between islandsdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribershipexceeds 165 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 356; submarine cable connects toItaly; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Marshall Islandsgeneral assessment: digital switching equipment;modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, internationalcalling, caller ID, and leased data circuitsdomestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected byhigh frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)and mini-satellite telephonesinternational: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communicationssystem on Kwajalein (2005)
Mauritaniageneral assessment: limited system of cable and open-wirelines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephonecommunications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidlydomestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, wasprivatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-lineservices; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellularnetwork coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of70 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domesticsatellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regionalcapitalsinternational: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); optical-fiber and AsymmetricDigital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)
Mauritiusgeneral assessment: small system with good servicedomestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005;fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellularservices launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2009 reaching 85 per100 personsinternational: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFEsubmarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa whereit connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides furtherlinks to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station -1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HFradiotelephone links to several countries (2009)
Mayottegeneral assessment: small system administered by FrenchDepartment of Posts and Telecommunicationsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HFradiotelephone communications to Comoros
Mexicogeneral assessment: adequate telephone service for businessand government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellularavailability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-linesubscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations;extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use offiber-optic cable and coaxial cabledomestic: despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmexremains dominant; Fixed-line teledensity is less than 20 per 100persons; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 75 per 100 persons in2009international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarinecable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain,and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) andthe MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to CentralAmerica, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US;satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (givingMexico improved access to South America, Central America, and muchof the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat,numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central AmericanMicrowave System of trunk connections (2009)
Micronesia, Federated States of general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Moldovageneral assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; somemodernization is under waydomestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long waitfor service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellulartelephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; aCDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combinedfixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 90 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 373; service through Romania andRussia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3(Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2009)
Monacogeneral assessment: modern automatic telephone system; thecountry's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of servicesto residential and business customersdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityexceeds 100%international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;connected by cable into the French communications system
Mongoliageneral assessment: network is improving with internationaldirect dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network hasbeen installed that is improving broadband and communicationservices between major urban centers with multiple companiesproviding inter-city fiber-optic cable servicesdomestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiplemobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
Montenegrogeneral assessment: modern telecommunications system withaccess to European satellitesdomestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multipleproviders with national coverage, is growinginternational: country code - 382; 2 international switches connectthe national system
Montserratgeneral assessment: modern and fully digitalizeddomestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems availableinternational: country code - 1-664; landing point for the EastCaribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the BritishVirgin Islands to Trinidad
Moroccogeneral assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines,cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centersare Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital usingfiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radiorelay; Internet available but expensivedomestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons;mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009international: country code - 212; landing point for the AtlasOffshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, andSEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optical telecommunications undersea cables thatprovide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satelliteearth 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 inMedarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria andTunisia (2009)
Mozambiquegeneral assessment: a fair telecommunications system thatis shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, andhigh operating costs and chargesdomestic: stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapidgrowth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage nowincludes all the main cities and key roads, including those fromMaputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the nationalhighway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor,and from Nampula to Nacala; extremely low fixed-line teledensity;despite significant growth in mobile-cellular services, teledensityremains low at about 25 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); landing point forthe SEACOM fiber-optic cable
Namibiageneral assessment: good system; core fiber-optic networklinks most centers and connections are now digitaldomestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combinedsubscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combinedfixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to SouthAfrica, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links toother neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East(SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earthstations - 4 Intelsat (2008)
Naurugeneral assessment: adequate local and internationalradiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilitiesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Nepalgeneral assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fairradiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephonenetworkdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone servicesubscribership base only about 30 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications;microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean) (2008)
Netherlandsgeneral assessment: highly developed and well maintaineddomestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellulartelephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the thirdgeneration of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)technology; one in five households now use Voice over the InternetProtocol (VoIP) servicesinternational: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links tothe US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)
New Caledoniageneral assessment: a submarine cable networkconnection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007,is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improvehigh-speed connectivity and access to international networksdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephonesubscribership exceeds 100 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
New Zealandgeneral assessment: excellent domestic and internationalsystemsdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephonesubscribership exceeds 150 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cablesystem provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satelliteearth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)
Nicaraguageneral assessment: system being upgraded by foreigninvestment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity nowuses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization ofthe formerly state-owned telecommunications companydomestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line andmobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lagsbehind other Central American countries; fixed-line teledensityroughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribershipis increasing and reached 55 per 100 persons in 2009; connected toCentral American Microwave Systeminternational: country code - 505; the Americas Region CaribbeanRing System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable providesconnectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean,and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (AtlanticOcean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Nigergeneral assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay linksconcentrated in the southwestern area of Nigerdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityremains less than 20 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasingcellular subscribership base; domestic satellite system with 3 earthstations and 1 plannedinternational: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2009)
Nigeriageneral assessment: further expansion and modernization ofthe fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remainsa problemdomestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in partresponding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiplecellular providers operate nationally with subscribership reaching50 per 100 persons in 2009international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASCfiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe andAsia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1Indian Ocean) (2009)
Niuedomestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages onislandinternational: country code - 683 (2001)
Norfolk Islandgeneral assessment: adequatedomestic: free local callsinternational: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links withAustralia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
Northern Mariana Islandsgeneral assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Norwaygeneral assessment: modern in all respects; one of the mostadvanced telecommunications networks in Europedomestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence ofrural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systemsinternational: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems;submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe;satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (AtlanticOcean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordiccountries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Omangeneral assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limitedcoaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stationsdomestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership bothincreasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introducedto remote villages using wireless local loop systemsinternational: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around theGlobe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provideconnectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earthstations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008)
Pakistangeneral assessment: the telecommunications infrastructureis improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments infixed-line and mobile-cellular networks; system consists ofmicrowave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular,and satellite networks;domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, exceeding100 million in 2009, up from only about 300,000 in 2000;approximately 90 percent of Pakistanis live within areas that havecell phone coverage and more than half of all Pakistanis have accessto a cell phone; fiber systems are being constructed throughout thecountry to aid in network growth; fixed line availability has risenonly marginally over the same period and there are stilldifficulties getting fixed-line service to rural areasinternational: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia,the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational internationalgateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radiorelay to neighboring countries (2009)
Palaugeneral assessment: NAdomestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with acombined subscribership of roughly 100 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Panamageneral assessment: domestic and international facilitieswell developeddomestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increasedrapidlyinternational: country code - 507; landing point for the AmericasRegion Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AMsubmarine cable systems that together provide links to the US andparts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected tothe Central American Microwave System (2008)
Papua New Guineageneral assessment: services are minimal;facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,aeronautical radio, and international radio communication servicesdomestic: access to telephone services is not widely available;combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 15 per100 personsinternational: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia andGuam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);international radio communication service (2009)
Paraguaygeneral assessment: the fixed-line market is a statemonopoly and fixed-line telephone service is meager; principalswitching center is in Asunciondomestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service haveresulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fosteredby competition among multiple providersinternational: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Perugeneral assessment: adequate for most requirements; nationwidemicrowave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12earth stationsdomestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons;mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multipleproviders, has increased to roughly 85 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) andPan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to partsof Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earthstations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Philippinesgeneral assessment: good international radiotelephoneand submarine cable services; domestic and interisland serviceadequatedomestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations;mobile-cellular communications now dominate the industry; combinedfixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per100 personsinternational: country code - 63; a series of submarine cablestogether provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, andEurope; multiple international gateways (2009)
Pitcairn Islandsgeneral assessment: satellite phone servicesdomestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1(Inmarsat)
Polandgeneral assessment: modernization of the telecommunicationsnetwork has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-lineservice, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed bythe growth in mobile-cellular servicesdomestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and providedby three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginningoperations in late 2006; coverage is generally good with some gapsin the east; fixed-line service lags in rural areasinternational: country code - 48; international direct dialing withautomated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access toIntelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2009)
Portugalgeneral assessment: Portugal's telephone system has astate-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilitiesdomestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwaveradio relay, and domestic satellite earth stationsinternational: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cablesprovide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa,the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
Puerto Ricogeneral assessment: modern system integrated with thatof the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat withhigh-speed data capabilitydomestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular servicesinternational: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provideconnectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Qatargeneral assessment: modern system centered in Dohadomestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephonesubscribership exceeds 300 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-OpticLink Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provideslinks to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatterto Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 IndianOcean) and 1 Arabsat (2009)
Romaniageneral assessment: the telecommunications sector is beingexpanded and modernized; domestic and international serviceimproving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular servicesdomestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic;fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons;mobile-cellular teledensity, expanding rapidly, roughly 115telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic Systemprovides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earthstations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operatein Bucharest (2009)
Russiageneral assessment: the telephone system is experiencingsignificant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed tooffer communication services; access to digital lines has improved,particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services areimproving; Russia has made progress toward building thetelecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy;the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1million in 1998 to some 230 million in 2009; a large demand forfixed line service remains unsatisfieddomestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from SaintPetersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; thetelephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digitalinfrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, areavailable in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services arestill outdated, inadequate, and low densityinternational: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationallyby undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several citiesprovide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satelliteearth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat,Inmarsat, and Orbita systems (2008)
Rwandageneral assessment: small, inadequate telephone systemprimarily serves business, education, and governmentdomestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of theprovinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellulartelephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HFradiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephonedensity has increased to about 25 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 250; international connections employmicrowave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellitecommunications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations -1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefaxservice)
Saint Barthelemygeneral assessment: fully integrated accessdomestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systemsinternational: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cableprovides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhageneral assessment:can communicate worldwidedomestic: automatic digital networkinternational: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island)- 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and datacommunications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4,Saint Helena - 1)
Saint Kitts and Nevisgeneral assessment: good interisland andinternational connectionsdomestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable;construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched inNovember 2004international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally bythe East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbeanfiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables
Saint Luciageneral assessment: adequate systemdomestic: system is automatically switchedinternational: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber OpticSystem (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry callsinternationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martiniqueand Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter toBarbados
Saint Martingeneral assessment: fully integrated accessdomestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systemsinternational: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cableprovides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe
Saint Pierre and Miquelongeneral assessment: adequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication withmost countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in Frenchdomestic satellite system
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesgeneral assessment: adequate systemdomestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHFradiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of theGrenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per100 personsinternational: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber OpticSystem (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity alsoprovided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsatearth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Samoageneral assessment: adequatedomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityroughly 85 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly95 percent of the countryinternational: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
San Marinogeneral assessment: automatic telephone system completelyintegrated into Italian systemdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 150telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 378; connected to Italianinternational network
Sao Tome and Principegeneral assessment: local telephone network ofadequate quality with most lines connected to digital switchesdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityroughly 35 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Saudi Arabiageneral assessment: modern system including acombination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, andfiber-optic cablesdomestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidlyinternational: country code - 966; landing point for theinternational submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe(FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cablenetworks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, andUS; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE,Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satelliteearth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2008)
Senegalgeneral assessment: good system with microwave radio relay,coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk systemdomestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network;nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where acall-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line servicesin rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidlyinternational: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cableprovides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 providesconnectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Serbiageneral assessment: replacements of, and upgrades to,telecommunications equipment damaged during the 1999 war hasresulted in a modern telecommunications system more than 95%digitalized in 2009domestic: wireless service, available through multiple providerswith national coverage, is growing very rapidly; besttelecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 3G mobilenetwork launched in 2007international: country code - 381 (2009)
Seychellesgeneral assessment: effective systemdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications betweenislands in the archipelagointernational: country code - 248; direct radiotelephonecommunications with adjacent island countries and African coastalcountries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Sierra Leonegeneral assessment: marginal telephone service withpoor infrastructuredomestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connectsFreetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growingrapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limitedinternational: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Singaporegeneral assessment: excellent servicedomestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wirelessservice in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellularteledensity is more than 180 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables providelinks throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;satellite earth stations - 4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2008)
Sint Maartengeneral assessment: generally adequate facilitiesdomestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: country code - 599; the Americas Region CaribbeanRing System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systemsprovide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America andthe Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Slovakiageneral assessment: Slovakia has a moderntelecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recentyears with the growth in cellular servicesdomestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and isbeing enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the largercities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular servicesinternational: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 inBratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia isparticipating in several international telecommunications projectsthat will increase the availability of external services
Sloveniageneral assessment: well-developed telecommunicationsinfrastructuredomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityroughly 150 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 386
Solomon Islandsgeneral assessment: NAdomestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephonesper 100 personsinternational: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Somaliageneral assessment: the public telecommunications system wasalmost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war;private companies offer limited local fixed-line service and privatewireless companies offer service in most major cities while chargingthe lowest international rates on the continentdomestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established inMogadishu and in several other population centersinternational: country code - 252; international connections areavailable from Mogadishu by satellite
South Africageneral assessment: the system is the best developedand most modern in Africadomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityroughly 105 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equippedopen-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links,fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, andwireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoriainternational: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiberoptic cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 AtlanticOcean)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsgeneral assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Spaingeneral assessment: well developed, modern facilities;fixed-line teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 personsdomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity isnearly 175 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 34; submarine cables provideconnectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earthstations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NAEutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Sri Lankageneral assessment: telephone services have improvedsignificantly and are available in most parts of the countrydomestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digitalmicrowave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo areaand fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition isstrong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribershipis increasinginternational: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, MiddleEast, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (IndianOcean)
Sudangeneral assessment: well-equipped system by regional standardsand being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and haveexpanded substantially with wide coverage of most major citiesdomestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic,radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domesticsatellite system with 14 earth stationsinternational: country code - 249; linked to international submarinecable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earthstations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2000)
Surinamegeneral assessment: international facilities are gooddomestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensityroughly 175 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Svalbardgeneral assessment: probably adequatedomestic: local telephone serviceinternational: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 ofunknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Swazilandgeneral assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advancedsystemdomestic: single source for mobile-cellular service with ageographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base;combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeded 60telephones per 100 persons in 2009; telephone system consists ofcarrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radiorelayinternational: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Swedengeneral assessment: highly developed telecommunicationsinfrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line,mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetrationdomestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voicetraffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry someadditional telephone channelsinternational: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links toother Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic andIndian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earthstation with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,and Norway)
Switzerlandgeneral assessment: highly developed telecommunicationsinfrastructure with excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensityand infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 120 per100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networksinternational: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Syriageneral assessment: fair system currently undergoingsignificant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optictechnology and expansion of the network to rural areasdomestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increasedmarkedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephonesubscribership reaching nearly 50 per 100 persons in 2009international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection toEgypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxialcable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, andTurkey; participant in Medarabtel
Taiwangeneral assessment: provides telecommunications service forevery business and private needdomestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalizedinternational: country code - 886; roughly 15 submarine fiber cablescables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East,Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Tajikistangeneral assessment: foreign investment in the telephonesystem has resulted in major improvements; conversion of theexisting fixed network from analogue to digital more than 90%complete by 2009domestic: fixed line availability has not changed significantlysince 1998 while mobile cellular subscribership, aided bycompetition among multiple operators, has expanded rapidly; coveragenow extends to all major cities and townsinternational: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwaveradio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to theMoscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat tointernational gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earthstations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2009)
Tanzaniageneral assessment: telecommunications services aremarginal; system operating below capacity and being modernized forbetter service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system underconstructiondomestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided bymultiple providers, is increasing rapidly; trunk service provided byopen-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, andfiber-optic cable; some links being made digitalinternational: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Thailandgeneral assessment: high quality system, especially inurban areas like Bangkokdomestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned andcommercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidlyinternational: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cablesystems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East,Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 IndianOcean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
Timor-Lestegeneral assessment: rudimentary service limited to urbanareasdomestic: system suffered significant damage during the violenceassociated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services;mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urbanareasinternational: country code - 670; international service isavailable in major urban centers
Togogeneral assessment: fair system based on a network of microwaveradio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and amobile-cellular systemdomestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventionalsystem; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly40 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominatinginternational: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie
Tokelaugeneral assessment: modern satellite-based communicationssystemdomestic: radiotelephone service between islandsinternational: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earthstations - 3
Tongageneral assessment: competition between TongaTelecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline CommunicationsTonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCTgranted approval to introduce high-speed digital service fortelephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rightsto operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom servicesare provided by government-owned Tonga TelecommunicationsInternational (TTI)domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about70 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched networkinternational: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Trinidad and Tobagogeneral assessment: excellent internationalservice; good local servicedomestic: mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 185 telephones per 100personsinternational: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provideconnectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); troposphericscatter to Barbados and Guyana
Tunisiageneral assessment: above the African average and continuingto be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access availablethroughout the countrydomestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-linenetwork, the government has awarded a concession to build andoperate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areasare served by wireless local loops; competition between the twomobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activationand usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; a thirdmobile, fixed, and ISP operator was licensed in 2009 and will beginoffering services in 2010; expansion of mobile-cellular services toinclude multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phoneservices also leading to a surge in subscribership; overallfixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 100 telephonesper 100 personsinternational: country code - 216; a landing point for theSEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radiorelay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2international gateway digital switches
Turkeygeneral assessment: comprehensive telecommunications networkundergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially inmobile-cellular servicesdomestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapidincrease in subscribers; the construction of a network oftechnologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using bothfiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitatingcommunication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by adomestic satellite system; the number of subscribers tomobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidlyinternational: country code - 90; international service is providedby the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-opticcables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey withItaly, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satelliteearth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 inthe Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Turkmenistangeneral assessment: telecommunications network remainsunderdeveloped and progress toward improvement is slow; strictgovernment control and censorship inhibits liberalization andmodernizationdomestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign partners, hasinstalled high speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of thecountry's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digitaltechnology; mobile telephone usage is expanding with Russia's MobileTelesystems (MTS) the primary service provider; combined fixed-lineand mobile teledensity is about 40 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable andmicrowave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countriesby leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; anexchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkeyvia Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat(2008)
Turks and Caicos Islandsgeneral assessment: fully digital systemwith international direct dialingdomestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless serviceavailableinternational: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region CaribbeanRing System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cableprovides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of theCaribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Tuvalugeneral assessment: serves particular needs for internalcommunicationsdomestic: radiotelephone communications between islandsinternational: country code - 688; international calls can be madeby satellite
Ugandageneral assessment: mobile cellular service is increasingrapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient; workunderway on a national backbone information and communicationstechnology infrastructure; international phone networks and Internetconnectivity provided through satellite and VSAT applicationsdomestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, andradiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellularsystems for short-range traffic; mobile-cellular teledensity about30 per 100 persons in 2009international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya andTanzania
Ukrainegeneral assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication developmentplan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, internationalconnections, and the mobile-cellular systemdomestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited atelephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not besatisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk systemis being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digitaland a majority of regional centers now have digital switchingstations; improvements in local networks and local exchangescontinue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansionhas slowed, largely due to saturation of the market which hasreached 120 mobile phones per 100 peopleinternational: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are apart of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-opticTrans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries;additional international service is provided by theItaly-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable andby an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat,and Intersputnik satellite systems
United Arab Emiratesgeneral assessment: modern fiber-opticintegrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use ofmobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubaidomestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cableinternational: country code - 971; linked to the internationalsubmarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landingpoint for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cablenetworks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Oceanand 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
United Kingdomgeneral assessment: technologically advanced domesticand international systemdomestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, andfiber-optic systemsinternational: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables providelinks throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US;satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat;at least 8 large international switching centers
United Statesgeneral assessment: a large, technologically advanced,multipurpose communications systemdomestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radiorelay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form oftelephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobiletelephone traffic throughout the countryinternational: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systemsprovide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Oceanregions) (2000)
Uruguaygeneral assessment: fully digitalizeddomestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; newnationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line andmobile-cellular teledensity is 135 telephones per 100 personsinternational: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable systemprovides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Uzbekistangeneral assessment: digital exchanges in large cities butstill antiquated and inadequate in rural areasdomestic: the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom,owner of the fixed line telecommunications system, has used loansfrom the Japanese government and the China Development Bank toupgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digitalexchanges; mobile-cellular services are growing rapidly, with thesubscriber base exceeding 16 million in 2009international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable ormicrowave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countriesby leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch;after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe(TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan plans to establish a fiber-opticconnection to Afghanistan (2009)
Vanuatugeneral assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Venezuelageneral assessment: modern and expandingdomestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recentsubstantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable ofdigital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellulartelephone subscribership 130 per 100 personsinternational: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provideconnectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia inthe construction of an international fiber-optic network (2009)
Vietnamgeneral assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effortinto modernization and expansion of its telecommunication systemdomestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected toHanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable ormicrowave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, andthe use of mobile telephones is growing rapidlyinternational: country code - 84; a landing point for theSEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cablesystems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduledfor completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links toAsia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (IndianOcean region)
Virgin Islandsgeneral assessment: modern system with total digitalswitching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relaydomestic: full range of services availableinternational: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections toUS, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earthstations - NA
Wake Islandgeneral assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSNcircuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); located in theHawaii area code - 808domestic: NAinternational: NA
Wallis and Futunageneral assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 681
West Bankgeneral assessment: continuing political and economicinstability has impeded significant liberalization of thetelecommunications industrydomestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTELare responsible for fixed line services; PALTEL plans to establish afiber-optic connection to Jordan to route domestic mobile calls; thePalestinian JAWWAL company and WATANIYA PALESTINE provide cellularservicesinternational: country code - 970; 1 international switch inRamallah (2009) (2009)
Western Saharageneral assessment: sparse and limited systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system bymicrowave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked toRabat, Morocco
Worldgeneral assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: NA
Yemengeneral assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts havebeen made to create a national telecommunications networkdomestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephonesystems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low byregional standardsinternational: country code - 967; landing point for theinternational submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe(FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
Zambiageneral assessment: among the best in Sub-Saharan Africadomestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most largertowns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operationand network coverage is improving; domestic satellite system beinginstalled to improve telephone service in rural areas; Internetservice is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT)networks are operated by private firmsinternational: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel
Zimbabwegeneral assessment: system was once one of the best inAfrica, but now suffers from poor maintenancedomestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loopinstallations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internetconnection is available in Harare and planned for all major townsand for some of the smaller onesinternational: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare andGweru)
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Field Listing :: Terrain
This entry contains a brief description of the topography.Country
Terrain
Afghanistanmostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Albaniamostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Algeriamostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,discontinuous coastal plain
American Samoafive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limitedcoastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Andorrarugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Angolanarrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Anguillaflat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Antarcticaabout 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock,with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountainranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas includeparts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the AntarcticPeninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciersform ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating iceshelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Antigua and Barbudamostly low-lying limestone and coral islands,with some higher volcanic areas
Arctic Oceancentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polaricepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressureridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern inthe Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement fromthe New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (betweenGreenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seasduring the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winterand extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with theremainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges(Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)