Telecommunications in Uzbekistan

Telecommunications in Uzbekistan
Telecommunications
Republic of Uzbekistan
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg
LocationUzbekistan.PNG
Exquisite-Modem.png Landlines (2007): 1.821 million[1]
Phone-motorola-v3i.svg Mobile lines (2008): 10.4 million[1]
ccTLD: .uz
Calling code: +998

Telecommunications networks in Uzbekistan are largely based on Soviet-built infrastructure but with lots of modern additions making the country one of the leading in the region in terms of informational development.

Contents

Telephone

The current Uzbek telephone system is both antiquated and inadequate. It is in need of improvement to bring it up to modern, international standards.[1]

Domestic System

The main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and telephone density is low. The state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, is using loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to improve mainline services. The completion of conversion to digital exchanges is planned for 2010. Mobile services are growing rapidly, with the subscriber base reaching 10.4 million in 2008.[1]

International System

Uzbekistan is linked by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by 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-optic connection to Afghanistan.[1]

Radio

Currently, Uzbekistan has four AM stations, 12 FM stations, and 3 shortwave stations. Additionally, as of 1997, there are an estimated 10.2 million radios in use in Uzbekistan.[1]

Television

Uzbekistan has 28 television broadcast stations. This includes one cable rebroadcaster in Taskent and approximately 20 stations in regional capitals.[1]

Internet

There are approximately 2.1 million Internet users and approximately 38,000 Internet hosts in Uzbekistan. The "Uzbek Internet" is sometimes called "Uznet",[2] similar to Runet. The country code (Top level domain) for Uzbekistan is .uz.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h CIA World Factbook, 2009: Uzbekistan
  2. ^ http://uznet.asia

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2009 edition".