Uzbekistan Communications 2007

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.793 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.1 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated; the state-owned telecom company, Uzbektelecom, is using a US$110 million loan from the Japanese government to improve main line services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base doubling in 2005 to 1.1 million; there are 6 main cellular providers currently in operation
international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Television broadcast stations:
8 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)

Internet country code:
.uz

Internet hosts:
11,832 (2007)