Short facts about communications in Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:

748,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

77,100 (1997)

Telephone system:

general assessment:  inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use domestic:  expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications international:  international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.76 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

42 (2000)

Internet users:

234,000 (2000)

Source: World Factbook