Telecommunications in Mongolia

Telecommunications in Mongolia face unique challenges. As the least densely populated country in the world, with a significant portion of the population living a nomadic lifestyle, it has been difficult for many traditional information and communication technology (ICT) companies to make headway into Mongolian society. With almost half the population clustered in the capital of Ulaanbaatar, most landline technologies are deployed there. Wireless technologies have had greater success in rural areas.

Mobile phones are common, with provincial capitals all having 4G access. Wireless local loop is another technology that has helped Mongolia increase accessibility to telecommunications and bypass fixed-line infrastructure.

For Internet, Mongolia relies on fiber optic communications with its Chinese and Russian neighbors.

In 2005 Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider. Private radio and TV broadcasters, multi-channel satellite, and cable TV providers are also available.[1]

Telecommunications infrastructure

Telecommunications network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas. A fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services.[1]

Telephones

There are two landline telephone companies in Mongolia: Mongolia Telecom Company (MTC) and the Mongolian Railway Authority.[3] MTC is a joint venture with Korea Telecom and partially publicly owned. MTC leases fiber-optic lines from the Mongolian Railway Authority and connects to all aimags and soums. The number of fixed-line phones in Mongolia is slowly decreasing. The majority of MTC subscribers are in Ulaanbataar.[4]

Mobile phones are very popular in the city as well as the countryside. Especially in the countryside, the government is preferring the installation of cell phone base stations over laying land lines, as cell phone base stations are easier to install. Mongolia's Communication Authority has announced a plan to connect all sum center and a number of other settlements to cell phone services.[5]

Mobile operators

Mobile Users: Mobicom: 1,050,000 Skytel: 255,000 Unitel: 375,000 G-Mobile: 175,000 (2009).

Wireless local loop (WLL)

In order to overcome issues relating to distance and lack of traditional infrastructure in telecommunications Mongolia has utilized wireless local loop (WLL) technology. It provides phone service resembling that of landlines, but uses technology similar to mobile phones. There are currently five licensed WLL providers, though there only appear to be three companies actually offering service.

WLL providers

Radio

As of 2008, more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster as well as transmissions by multiple international broadcasters were available.[1] As of 1997, there were 360,000 radios.

Ulaanbaatar has 20 FM stations, including foreign radio stations BBC World Service, VOA, and Inner Mongolian Radio. In the whole country there are 5 longwave broadcasting stations, the most powerful at Ulaanbaatar with 1000 KW.

Television

Mongolian TV Broadcasting started on 27 September 1967 with the start of Mongolian National Television.

Television providers

Stations
Satellite
Cable
Internet Protocol television (IPTV)

OTT (Over-the Top) TV

Internet

The Internet, established in 1995 in Mongolia,[7] has yet to make a significant impact, with only 16% of the population having access to it as of 2012.[8] Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, which is a serious constraint to country-wide Internet deployment.[9] While much of the country remains pastoral with countryside residents dependent on herding and agriculture, Internet access is widely available to urban populations.[10] There has been steady online growth in online newspapers, magazines and advertising.[11]

Internet service providers (ISPs)

Main providers
Sub-providers
Satellite providers

Internet initiatives

Citizens Information Service Centers (CISC) have been established in Ulaanbataar and six Aimags that are equipped to allow nomadic rural populations to receive internet access.[17]

Many libraries and schools provide internet access, including some mobile providers that travel between rural populations.

The Asian Development Bank has an initiative to develop ICT technologies to "boost access to high-quality education for disadvantaged and remote populations in Mongolia, through a grant assistance approved for US$1 million."[18] The goal is to take advantage of newer technologies to improve access to information for about 10,000 students at 36 schools.

Internet censorship and surveillance

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet. The criminal code and constitution prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, however, there are reports of government surveillance, wiretapping, and e-mail account monitoring. Individuals and groups engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail. Defamation laws carrying civil and criminal penalties severely impede criticism of government officials.[10]

Censorship of public information is banned under the 1998 Media Freedom Law, but a 1995 state secrets law severely limits access to government information. After an eight-year campaign by activists, the parliament passed the Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information in June 2011, with the legislation taking effect in December 2011. Internet users remain concerned about a February 2011 regulation, the "General Conditions and Requirements on Digital Content", by the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) that restricts obscene and inappropriate content without explicitly defining it and requires popular websites to make their users' IP addresses publicly visible. The production, sale, or display of all pornography is illegal and carries a penalty of up to three months in prison.[8][10]

While there is no official censorship by the government, journalists frequently complain of harassment and intimidation.[8]

Post

Mongol Post is the state-owned postal service of Mongolia.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mongolia Communications, World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 Montsame News Agency. Mongolia. 2006, ISBN 99929-0-627-8, p. 95
  3. ↑ Montsame News Agency. Mongolia. 2006, ISBN 99929-0-627-8, p. 94.
  4. 1 2 InTeC Co.Ltd; MIDAS. “Information and Communications Technology Development in Mongolia – 2006: White Paper.” InTeC Co.Ltd and MIDAS (2006). Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  5. ↑ UBPost: Phone Plan to Connect Remote Populations
  6. ↑ Montsame News Agency. Mongolia. 2006, ISBN 99929-0-627-8, p. 96
  7. ↑ Mongolia media, Press reference.
  8. 1 2 3 "Mongolia", Freedom of the Press 2013, Freedom House. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  9. ↑ United Nations Population Division. "The World at Six Billion." Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat. New York, 12 October 1999. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 "Mongolia", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 15 August 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Banerjee, I. & Logan, S. Asian Communication Handbook 2008. AMIC, 2008. ISBN 978-981-4136-10-5.
  12. ↑ "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000–2012", International Telecommunications Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013
  13. ↑ "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Incomnet", Information Communication Networks. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  16. ↑ Visit our website, Isatcom.
  17. ↑ Bayasgalan. "Surfing the Internet from a 'Ger'?" IT4Dev.net. No date. Accessed 19 June 2008.
  18. ↑ "Using ICT to Improve Rural Education in Mongolia." Asian Development Bank. Adb.org, 2008. Accessed 6 July 2008.

Further reading

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