Telecommunications infrastructure in Eritrea is poorly developed and controlled by the government. Statistics are not widely available on all sectors, but it was estimated that in 2003–4 there were 38,100 main telephones lines, around 1,050 Internet hosts, and 9,500 Internet users. A 2000 estimate noted two AM and shortwave broadcast stations and no FM broadcast stations. Statistics on the number of televisions, radios, and computers in use in Eritrea are not available, but it is widely thought that rates of ownership of these items are very low. There are no reliable estimates available on the number of mobile cellular phones in use.
On 13 April 2006, Eritrea received a soft loan from the Government of China to upgrade their communication infrastructure. The total sum loaned to EriTel was $23 million dollars. All major cities are connected to the mobile telephone system in Eritrea except for Nakfa, Afabet, and Asseb. Afabet and Nakfa are expected to be online by July 2006.
Telephones - main lines in use: 39,000 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 84,700 (2007)
Telephone system:
domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios: 345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2-3 (2006)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (2005) - EriTel, CTS, TFanus, Ewan
Country code: ER