Communications in Yemen
Encyclopedia
There are a number of systems of communications in Yemen.
TeleYemen is the exclusive provider of international telecommunications for Yemen—fixed-line and wireless mobile companies, telex
, and Internet services—and is one of the mobile-phone operators. In 2003 the government-owned Public Telecommunications Corporation assumed full control of TeleYemen, and a year later it awarded a five-year management contract to France Telecom
.
The infrastructure of the domestic system consists of microwave radio relay, cables and tropospheric scatter. The international network consists of three Intelsat
(two Indian Ocean
, and one Atlantic Ocean
), one Intersputnik
and two Arabsat satellite earth stations, and a microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
and Djibouti
. Since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network.
Yemen had only 270,000 Internet users in 2006. This low number is attributed to the high cost of computer equipment and connections in combination with the population's low level of income, as well as to the restricted bandwidth available on Yemen’s outdated telephone network. In 2005 TeleYemen announced it would invest in the FALCON
high-capacity loop cable system, which will improve Internet access, including broadband capability, and also expand international call accessibility. There are five internet service provider
in Yemen. The top-level domain
and country code for Yemen is "YE". By the end of 2008 the Internet users increased to 295,232.
The cost of running a landline or owning a mobile telephone is out of reach for most of Yemen’s poor population, resulting in very low telephone usage rates—3.9 fixed-line subscribers and 9.5 mobile subscribers per 100 persons in 2005. The U.S. government reported 968,400 landlines and 2 million mobile subscribers in Yemen in 2006. The ministry of Telecom & IT of Yemen declared some new statistics of 6.271 million mobile subscribers by 2008. The technology used for domestic lines includes microwave radio relay, cable, and Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM). In 2001 two private companies won 15-year licenses to provide mobile phone services. The growth of the companies' networks has resulted in coverage of about 60 percent of the population, but threats to internal security coupled with poor consumer payment history remain obstacles to future growth. In August 2005, the government awarded a contract to a joint venture between China Mobile
and a group of Yemeni investors to take a 55 percent stake in Yemen’s third mobile network; the government will retain a 25 percent share. In August 2006, the same conglomerate was awarded a contract for a fourth mobile network. The four mobile network providers currently present in the mobile phone market are MTN
Yemen (Spacetel Yemen until 2006), Sabafon
, Yemen Mobile
, and Y (Hits Unitel).
The state-run Republic of Yemen Television and Republic of Yemen Radio operate the country's television and radio networks, respectively. As of 1998 Yemen had six AM, one FM, and two shortwave radio broadcast stations and, as of 2007, three
television broadcast stations, plus several low-power repeaters. As of 1997, there were 1.05 million radio
s and 470,000 televisions in Yemen.
TeleYemen is the exclusive provider of international telecommunications for Yemen—fixed-line and wireless mobile companies, telex
Telex
Telex may refer to:* Telex , , a communications network** Teleprinter, the device used on the above network* Telex , a Belgian pop group...
, and Internet services—and is one of the mobile-phone operators. In 2003 the government-owned Public Telecommunications Corporation assumed full control of TeleYemen, and a year later it awarded a five-year management contract to France Telecom
France Télécom
France Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
.
The infrastructure of the domestic system consists of microwave radio relay, cables and tropospheric scatter. The international network consists of three Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
(two Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and one Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
), one Intersputnik
Intersputnik
The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications commonly known as Intersputnik is an international satellite communications services organization founded on November 15, 1971, in Moscow by the Soviet Union along with a group of eight formerly socialist states...
and two Arabsat satellite earth stations, and a microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. Since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network.
Yemen had only 270,000 Internet users in 2006. This low number is attributed to the high cost of computer equipment and connections in combination with the population's low level of income, as well as to the restricted bandwidth available on Yemen’s outdated telephone network. In 2005 TeleYemen announced it would invest in the FALCON
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
high-capacity loop cable system, which will improve Internet access, including broadband capability, and also expand international call accessibility. There are five internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
in Yemen. The top-level domain
Top-level domain
A top-level domain is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space. For all domains in lower levels, it is the last part of the domain name, that is, the last label of a...
and country code for Yemen is "YE". By the end of 2008 the Internet users increased to 295,232.
The cost of running a landline or owning a mobile telephone is out of reach for most of Yemen’s poor population, resulting in very low telephone usage rates—3.9 fixed-line subscribers and 9.5 mobile subscribers per 100 persons in 2005. The U.S. government reported 968,400 landlines and 2 million mobile subscribers in Yemen in 2006. The ministry of Telecom & IT of Yemen declared some new statistics of 6.271 million mobile subscribers by 2008. The technology used for domestic lines includes microwave radio relay, cable, and Global System for Mobile Communications
Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
(GSM). In 2001 two private companies won 15-year licenses to provide mobile phone services. The growth of the companies' networks has resulted in coverage of about 60 percent of the population, but threats to internal security coupled with poor consumer payment history remain obstacles to future growth. In August 2005, the government awarded a contract to a joint venture between China Mobile
China Mobile
China Mobile Limited is a Chinese state-owned telecommunication company that provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network, the largest of its kind in the world...
and a group of Yemeni investors to take a 55 percent stake in Yemen’s third mobile network; the government will retain a 25 percent share. In August 2006, the same conglomerate was awarded a contract for a fourth mobile network. The four mobile network providers currently present in the mobile phone market are MTN
MTN
MTN may refer to:* MTN Group, a major South Africa-based mobile telephone network operator active in many African and Middle Eastern countries* Maritime Telecommunications Network, a mobile phone network that operates on sea vessels like cruise liners...
Yemen (Spacetel Yemen until 2006), Sabafon
Sabafon
Sabafon was the first GSM Network operator in Yemen, launched in February 2001.-Sabafon Logo and Slogan:Slogan: "سبأفونSABAFON ... همزة الوصل", meaning SABAFON.....
, Yemen Mobile
Yemen Mobile
- Yemen Mobile :Yemen Mobile is a CDMA 2000 network provider founded in Yemen, 2004 by the Yemen ministry of telecommunication and is considered the first CDMA network operator in the Middle East...
, and Y (Hits Unitel).
| Rank | Operator | Technology | Subscribers (in millions) | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spacetel Yemen | GSM | 1.972 (March 2009) | MTN Mobile Telephone Networks MTN Group is a South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Middle Eastern countries. Its head office is in Johannesburg.... (83%) |
| 2 | Sabafon Sabafon Sabafon was the first GSM Network operator in Yemen, launched in February 2001.-Sabafon Logo and Slogan:Slogan: "سبأفونSABAFON ... همزة الوصل", meaning SABAFON..... |
GSM | 2 (December 2008) | Yemen Mobile Phone Company, Batelco Batelco Bahrain Telecommunications Company - - is the principal telecommunications company of Bahrain. The company is headquartered in Bahrain and is listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange.-Ownership:... (26.942%) |
| 3 | Yemen Mobile | CDMA2000/1x CDMA2000 CDMA2000 is a family of 3G mobile technology standards, which use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites. The set of standards includes: CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A, and CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. B... |
2.180 (2008-2009) | Yemen Mobile Yemen Mobile - Yemen Mobile :Yemen Mobile is a CDMA 2000 network provider founded in Yemen, 2004 by the Yemen ministry of telecommunication and is considered the first CDMA network operator in the Middle East... |
| 3 | HiTS-UNITEL (Y) | GSM | 0.281 (2008-2009) | HiTS-UNITEL |
The state-run Republic of Yemen Television and Republic of Yemen Radio operate the country's television and radio networks, respectively. As of 1998 Yemen had six AM, one FM, and two shortwave radio broadcast stations and, as of 2007, three
television broadcast stations, plus several low-power repeaters. As of 1997, there were 1.05 million radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
s and 470,000 televisions in Yemen.