Telecommunications in Guyana

Telecommunications in Guyana include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Radio

  • Broadcast stations: government-dominated; the state owns and operates two radio stations broadcasting on multiple frequencies capable of reaching the entire country; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations continue to constrain competition (2007).[1]
  • Licenses and competition: In 2009 the Court of Appeal ruled that the government had an unlawful monopoly on the airwaves and was not adequately considering radio license applications. In 2011 the government approved applications for ten new radio stations, although the process was controversial and lacked transparency. By year’s end 2012 only one new station had begun operations, and it was closely aligned with the government.[2]
  • Press freedom: The government controls most radio stations, which limits the dissemination of diverse views and open public discussion. The NGO Reporters Without Borders criticized press freedom in the country in 2012, due largely to its radio broadcasting monopolies.[2]
  • Radios: 420,000 sets (1997).

Television

  • Broadcast stations: government-dominated; the National Communications Network (NCN) TV is state-owned; a few private TV stations relay satellite services (2007).[1]
  • Televisions: 46,000 dets (1997).
  • Censorship: No government-imposed restrictions on television stations or suspensions of broadcasts in 2012. The government largely directs advertising to media houses aligned with the governing party. The government continues to exert heavy control over the content of the National Communications Network (TV), giving government spokespersons extended coverage, while limiting participation of opposition figures.[2]

Telephone

Internet

Internet censorship and surveillance

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without judicial oversight.[2]

The law provides for freedom of speech including for members of the press, and the government generally respects this right in practice. Government officials use libel laws to suppress criticism. A hearing into a 10 million Guyanese dollars ($50,000) libel suit filed by former President Jagdeo in July 2010 against the Kaieteur News publishers, its editor in chief, and one of its columnists began in August 2011 and remained pending at the end of 2012. The law prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice. A 2008 law allows for the interception of communications through a warrant issued by a judge, exceptions being in the case of a national emergency or where approval for a warrant is impracticable due to the urgency of the matter.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Guyana Communications", World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guyana", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 20 March 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010)), Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "US$60 million submarine fibre-optic cable lands in Guyana", Kaieteur News, 10 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Upgrades: Americas II", Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T). Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012" Archived 2017-03-29 at the Wayback Machine., Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013
  7. ↑ "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012", International Telecommunications Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013
  8. ↑ "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Select Formats Archived 2009-05-13 at the Wayback Machine., Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.
  11. ↑ Population, The World Factbook, United States Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.
  • Guyana Top Level Domain at the Center for Information Technology, University of Guyana manages the .gy, .co.gy, .org.gy, .net.gy, .edu.gy, and .gov.gy domains.
  • DevNet, a Guyana-based not-for-profit NGO working to integrate the use of information and communication technologies (ITCs) in development.
Service Providers
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