Communications in Gibraltar
|
|
| Contents |
Telecommunications
Until 1990, telephone services were operated by the Gibraltar Telephone Department. In that year, the Government of Gibraltar entered into two joint ventures with Nynex of the United States, and BT in the United Kingdom. Gibraltar Nynex Communications (GNC) became responsible for fixed line telephony, and international calls to Spain, while Gibtel (partly owned by BT) became responsible for all other international calls and mobile telephone services. In 2002, BT sold its 50 per cent stake in Gibtel, which merged with GNC to form Gibtelecom, a joint venture between the Government of Gibraltar and Nynex's successor company, Verizon.
Telecommunication services in Gibraltar have been subject to Spanish restrictions. Spain refuses to recognise Gibraltar's international dialling code +350, instead treating Gibraltar as part of the Cadiz province's telephone exchange, using the code 9567. This has restricted the expansion of Gibraltar's telephone numbering plan, as only 30 000 numbers can be dialled directly from Spain.
This has also affected international calls from the rest of the world, owing to the fact that carriers using least cost routing, especially in the US, route calls to Gibraltar via Spain, which prevents calls dialled using the code +350 from terminating in Gibraltar. Consequently, the caller hears a recorded announcement saying that the number dialled does not exist. Even when calls routed via Spain are allowed to terminate in Gibraltar, under the 'sender keeps all' arrangement, Telefónica in Spain is able to keep revenue from these calls, instead of paying Gibtelecom's international termination charges. Although all other countries and territories recognise the +350 dialling code, not all networks block calls to Gibraltar made using the Spanish code +34 9567, which allows subscribers to call Gibraltar for the cost of a call to Spain.
Roaming for Gibraltar GSM mobile phones in Spain is also prevented, although they operate throughout the rest of the world.
The telecommunications infrastructure in Gibraltar is modelled on that of the UK; for example; the ringing tone of fixed telephone lines is identical to that of the UK, although that of mobile phones resembles that of mainland Europe, with long tones. Telephone jacks are also the same as those in the UK, being rectangular as opposed to the square RJ-11 versions found in the rest of mainland Europe.
It is a popular myth among travel writers that Gibraltar still has traditional red British-style telephone boxes; very few are to be found in use.
Telephones - main lines in use: 24,070 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,000 (2002 estimate)
Telephone system:
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic:
Digital exchange facilities
international:
radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcasting
The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation operates Radio Gibraltar on both FM and AM, broadcasting a mix of local programming in English and Spanish, and retransmissions of the BBC World Service. A local television channel, GBC TV is transmitted on VHF Channel 12 with UHF repeaters. Until 1999, GBC TV retransmitted BBC Prime, but was relaunched as a community-based service focusing on local news and other items of local interest. Most homes have access to satellite television from the United Kingdom, and also receive television and radio from Spain.
The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates two radio stations on FM, BFBS1 and BFBS2 and a private cable television network.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios: 37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (2002)
Television Licences: 7,452 (2002)
Internet
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 GibNet, a private company, began internet services in 1996, with GNC Networks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gibraltar Nynex Communications, commencing services in 1997. GNC Networks was renamed Gibconnect in 2002. ADSL services were not introduced until 2002: the relatively high cost of the service has meant that take-up from residential customers and small businesses has been minimal.
Country code (Top-level domain): GI
Calling code: 350
GSM Network Identifier : GIBTEL
External Links
- Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.gbc.gi)
- BFBS Radio in Gibraltar (http://www.ssvc.com/bfbs/radio/gibraltar)
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (http://www.gra.gi)
- Gibtelecom (http://www.gibtele.com/)
- GibNet (http://www.gibnet.gi)
- Amateur Radio in Gibraltar (http://www.gibradio.net)
- See also : Gibraltar