title: Telecommunications in Bulgaria
text: Telecommunications in Bulgaria include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
  
  Radio and television
  
   Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001).
   Radio broadcast hours: 525,511 (2003).
   Television broadcast stations: 39 (2001).
   Television broadcast hours: 498,091 (2003).
  
  Telephones
  
   Main lines in use: 1.6 million (2015 est).
   Mobile cellular: 8.98 million lines (2016).
   Telephone system:
   General assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now exceeds the population
   Domestic:  a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay
   International:  country code – 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and North Macedonia; satellite earth stations – 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2007).
  
  Internet
  
   Top-level domains: .bg and .бг (proposed, Cyrillic).
   Internet users: 
   4.1 million users (2016) 
   3.9 million users, 72nd in the world; 55.1% of the population, 74th in the world (2012); 
   3.4 million users, 63rd in the world (2009);
   1.9 million users (2007).
   Fixed broadband: 1.2 million subscriptions, 52nd in the world; 17.6% of population, 53rd in the world (2012).
   Wireless broadband: 2.8 million, 55th in the world; 40.3% of the population, 41st in the world (2012).
   Internet hosts: 
   976,277 hosts, 47th in the world (2012);
   513,470 (2008).
   IPv4: 4.2 million addresses allocated, 0.1% of the world total, 589.7 addresses per 1000 people, 51st in the world (2012).
  
  See also
  
   Internet Society – Bulgaria
   List of internet service providers in Bulgaria
   Bulgaria
  
  References