Communications in Syria

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Telephones - main lines in use: 3,500,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
Syriatel http://www.syriatel.com
MTN (formerly Areeba Syria) http://www.mtn.com.sy

Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 4.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: Syrian TV Website: http://rtv.gov.sy
54 (of which 36 are low-power and repeater stations) (1997)

Televisions: 1.05 million (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

Country code (Top level domain): .sy

[edit] Broadband Internet access

ADSL service in Syria has become available since 2003 and is provided by the Syrian Internet Service Provider 190 which is backed by the Syrian Telecom.

Available ADSL speeds with typical monthly prices:

256 kbit/s at cost of SP2400 (~US$46).
512 kbit/s at cost of SP3700 (~US$70).
1 Mbit/s at cost of SP5900 (~US$110).
2 Mbit/s at cost of SP9800 (~US$185).
4 Mbit/s at cost of SP17000 (~US$315).
8 Mbit/s at cost of SP29800 (~US$555).

Installation costs SP2000 (~US$39) and is paid once only.
(An average Syrian monthly income is $100)

Syrian Telecom is cooperating with a Chinese company to improve the infrastructure which might lead to much better prices and the introduction of higher speeds.

NOTE: The available ADSL lines, controlled by Syrian Telecom (ST), have been reserved for government, public, and private companies.
When an individual requests a new ADSL lines for own use, ISPs are not able to fulfill those requests giving an excuse that there are no lines available.

However, finding key persons in the ST and providing an extra amount of money to such persons, one can get the line installed immediately. This process has allowed many businesses to look seriously at investing in the ISP (pre-paid Internet dialup access service) business since most students, private citizens, and local shop owners cannot afford ADSL/broadband connection costs alongside the difficulty finding those ST persons to bribe.

With Pre-paid dialup Internet access service, a person pays an average of $0.40-$0.50/hour.
There are currently 10+ ISPs that provide pre-paid Internet access country-wide.