Telecommunications in Haiti

Telephones - main lines in use: 115,000 (2005)

Télécommunications d'Haiti S.A.M. (Teleco), a 98%-government owned company, has a monopoly on the provision of landline services throughout the country. Teleco has been constantly hobbled by political interference which has affected its performance. A net generator of revenues for the government in the 1970's and early 1980's, Teleco's demise started with the Prosper Avril government which spent Teleco's profits on politically-motivated campaigns and outright graft. The practice continued with the Aristide government.

Telephones - mobile cellular: 250,000 (2005)

Commmunications Cellulaires d'Haiti S.A. (Comcel) and Haiti Telecommunications International S.A. (haitel) are the country's two providers of cellular phone services.

Comcel, a subsidiary of [www.alltel.com Alltel Inc], is a TDMA company which launched its service in September 1999. Haitel, an independent company founded by Franck Ciné, a Haitian-American and former MCI/Worldcom executive, adopted CDMA technology. Neither company offers nationwide service although they cover several major cities.

Digicel Haiti, an affiliate of the pan-Caribbean [www.digicelgroup.com Digicel Group] won Haiti's first GSM license in June 2005 and is expected to launch service in early 2006.

Telephone system: Domestic facilities are barely adequate. International facilities are slightly better
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Radios: 415,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus a cable TV system) (1997)

Televisions: 38,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2005)

Country code (Top-level domain): HT

See also : Haiti