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Libya Telecommunications Profile

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Telephones - main lines in usetotal subscriptions: 1,618,511

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23.95 (2019 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellulartotal subscriptions: 6,182,105

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.48 (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systemsgeneral assessment:

political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecom sector, as warring factions make mobile towers a target and construction workers regularly cut cables by mistake; much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; rival operators fight for control; investment in fiber backbone and upgrades to international cables; limited LTE and 5G service; some satellite broadband; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and video displays from China (2021)

(2020)

domestic: 24 per 100 fixed-line and 91 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2019)

international: country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik;  microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Broadcast mediastate-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019)
Internet country code.ly
Internet userstotal: 1,440,859

percent of population: 21.76% (July 2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptionstotal: 168,920

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021

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