Telecommunications in Bolivia
Telecommunications in Bolivia includes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet. Radio and television Radio broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999). Television broadcast stations: 48 (1997). Bolivia has a large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating. There has been a recent, rapid growth of state-owned media, including a network of community radios. State-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operate freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2010). Telephones International calling code: 591. Fixed lines: 880,600 lines in use, 80th in the world (2012). Mobile cellular: 9.494 million telephones, 82nd in the world (2012). Satellite earth stations: 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011). The Bolivian National Telecommunications Company was privatized in 1995 but re-nationalized in 2007; the primary trunk system is being expanded and employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; system operations, reliability, and coverage have steadily improved. Most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in 2011, teledensity reached about 80 per 100 persons. Internet Internet hosts: 180,988 hosts, 75th in the