Short facts about communications in Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

9.6 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.02 million (1998)

Telephone system:

general assessment:  low telephone density with about 11 main lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening to competition in January 1997 has brightened prospects for development domestic:  adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, and mobile cellular service international:  satellite earth stations - 32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections; high capacity Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, and Italy (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 865, FM about 500, shortwave 13 (1999)

Radios:

31 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

25.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.mx

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

51 (2000)

Internet users:

2.5 million (2000)

Source: World Factbook