View source for Telecommunications in Equatorial Guinea

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
'''Telecommunications in Equatorial Guinea''' include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

==Radio and television==

* [[Radio broadcasting|Radio stations]]:
** 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible (2007);<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea/ "Communications: Equatorial Guinea"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 27 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.</ref> 
** no AM, 3 FM, and 5 shortwave stations (2001).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2010>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea/ "Communications: Equatorial Guinea"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 8 March 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2014 via Internet Archive.</ref> 
* [[Receiver (radio)|Radios]]: 180,000 (1997).{{update after|2014|2|10}}
* [[Television broadcasting|Television stations]]:
** 1 state-owned TV station; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible (2007);<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
** 1 TV station (2001).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2010/>
* [[Television set]]s: 4,000 (1997).{{update after|2014|2|10}}

The state maintains direct or indirect control of all broadcast media.<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/> The government owns the only national radio and television broadcast system, RTVGE. The president's eldest son owns the only private radio station. Satellite broadcasts are widely available, including the French language [[Africa24]] television news channel that occasionally carries opposition criticism. Foreign channels, including [[Radio France International]] (RFI) and the [[BBC World Service]], were broadcast uncensored throughout the country.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-EquatorialGuinea-2012/>

==Telephones==
{{See also |Telephone numbers in Equatorial Guinea}}

* [[Calling code]]: +240<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of international call prefixes|International call prefix]]: 00<ref>[http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf ''Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010))''], Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.</ref>
* Land lines:
** 14,900 lines in use, 195th in the world (2012);<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
** 10,000 lines in use, 204th in the world (2008).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2010/>
* Mobile cellular:
** 501,000 lines, 169th in the world (2012);<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
** 346,000 lines, 165th in the world (2008).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2010/>
* Telephone system: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage; fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2011 stood at about 60 percent of the population; international communications from [[Bata, Equatorial Guinea|Bata]] and the capital, [[Malabo]], to African and European countries (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/> 
* [[Communications satellite|Satellite earth stations]]: 1 [[Intelsat]] ([[Indian Ocean]]) (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of international submarine communications cables|Communications cables]]: [[ACE (cable system)|Africa Coast to Europe]] (ACE) submarine cable system, links countries along the west coast of Africa to each other and on to [[Portugal]] and [[France]].<ref>[http://www.ace-submarinecable.com/ace/default/EN/all/ace_en/index.htm "ACE: Africa Coast to Europe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311232858/https://www.ace-submarinecable.com/ace/default/EN/all/ace_en/index.htm |date=2016-03-11 }}, Orange SA. Retrieved 10 February 2014.</ref>

==Internet==

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.gq]]<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 
** 95,649 users, 169th in the world; 13.9% of the population, 158th in the world (2012);<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs,  U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
** 14,400 users, 200th in the world (2009).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 1,372 subscriptions, 174th in the world; 0.2% of population, 159th in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131095656/http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx |date=2018-01-31 }}, Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: Unknown (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131095656/http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx |date=2018-01-31 }}, Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 7 hosts, 227th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-EquatorialGuinea-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by IPv4 address allocation|IPv4]]: 3,072 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 4.5 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[Internet service provider]]s: 9 ISPs (2009).{{citation needed |date=February 2014}}

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports the government monitors [[e-mail]] or Internet [[chat rooms]] without judicial oversight. Most overt criticism of the government comes from the country's community in exile, and the Internet has replaced broadcast media as the primary way opposition views were expressed and disseminated.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-EquatorialGuinea-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204115 "Equatorial Guinea"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.</ref>

Although the constitution and law provide for [[freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|press]], the law grants authorities extensive powers to restrict media activities, which the government uses to limit these rights. While criticism of government policies is allowed, individuals generally can not criticize the president, his family, other high-ranking officials, or the security forces without fear of reprisal. [[Libel]] is a criminal offense, but there were no instances of the government using these laws to suppress criticism during 2012.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-EquatorialGuinea-2012/>

The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, but the government often does not respect these prohibitions. Search warrants are required unless the crime is in progress or for reasons of national security. Security forces enter homes without authorization and arrest alleged criminals, foreign nationals, and others, often without required judicial orders.  The government reportedly attempts to impede criticism by monitoring the activities of the political opposition, journalists, and others. Journalists are subject to surveillance and practice [[self-censorship]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-EquatorialGuinea-2012/>

==See also==

* [[Radio Nacional de Guinea Equatorial]], state-owned national radio broadcaster.
* [[List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa]]
* [[Media of Equatorial Guinea]]
* [[Economy of Equatorial Guinea]]
* [[Equatorial Guinea]]

==References==

* {{CIA World Factbook}}
* {{US DOS |year=2012}}
{{reflist |30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Equatorial-Guinea.html "Press Reference: Equatorial Guinea"]

{{Clear}}
{{Africa topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}
{{Economy of Equatorial Guinea}}
{{Equatorial Guinea topics}}

[[Category:Telecommunications in Equatorial Guinea| ]]