| Telecommunications Republic of Armenia |
|
|---|---|
| Landlines (2008): | 650,000[1] |
| Mobile lines (2009): | 2.8 million[2] |
| ccTLD: | .am |
| Calling code: | +374 |
This article is about telecommunications systems in Armenia.
Contents |
There are three telephone companies in Armenia: Beeline, which holds all fixed-line and 30% of cellular networks, and VivaCell-MTS, which holds 70% of cellular networks, and Orange. Beeline has around 550,000 mobile subscribers, and VivaCell-MTS has around 1,750,000, and Orange has around 250,000.
In Armenia, telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era. Currently, the system is 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion. Additionally, the mobile-cellular services monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began operations in mid-2005.
As of 2008, approximately 80% of all main lines are digitized and provide quality services for the region. The remaining 20% is in modernization process. Telephone network is also in technological convergence process, which Beeline is going to complete in 2009. Cellular networks also provide high-quality services, including GPRS, EDGE.
3G service was announced by Beeline in the summer of 2008. VivaCell-MTS was going to announce this service at the end of 2008.
Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable via Georgia. There is general plan to make better connection via Turkey, after opening Turkey-Armenian borders. Additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Moscow international switch and by satellite.[1] Main backbones of Armenian networks are made by E3 or STM-1 lines via Microwave units across whole country with a lots-of passive retranslatations.
As of 2008, Armenia has 9 AM stations, 17 FM stations, and one shortwave station. Additionally, there are approximately 850,000 radios in existence.[1] Primary network provider is TRBNA
Armenia has 48 private television stations alongside 2 public networks with major Russian channels widely available throughout the country.[1] In year 2008 TRBNA upgraded main circuit to digital distribution system based on DVB-IP and MPEG2 standards.
There are approximately 1,400,000 Internet users and approximately 65,279 Internet hosts in Armenia.[1] The country code (Top level domain) for Armenia is .am, which has been used for AM radio stations and for domain hacks.[3]
Armentel's (the national communications company's) only fiber optic connection to the Internet enters Armenia through Georgia (via Marneuli)[4] and then connects to the rest of the Internet via an undersea fiber-optic cable in the Black Sea.[5] Armenia is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable system via Georgia, which runs along the railroad from Poti to Tbilisi to the Armenian border near Marneuli.[6] At Poti, the TAE cable connects to the undersea Georgia-Russia system KAFOS which then connects to the Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System.[7] The BSFOCS is co-owned by Armentel.[8]
A major way of connecting to the Internet used to be dial-up. This was caused by very high prices of Internet access, and only very few people could use other types of connections until Beeline, Vivacell MTS and Orange started selling portable USB-modems. The average price for one hour of dial-up Internet access is about 48 cents, plus 20 cents for using phone line (summary 68 cents per hour).
As of March 2010, it is estimated that there are about 100,000 broadband subscribers in Armenia.[9]
DSL connectivity is offered by Beeline, Cornet, Arminco, and others.
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2010 edition".