Bhutan Communications - 2021

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 21,581

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2.57 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 729,239

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.79 (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment:

Bhutan’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector for voice and data connections due to poor fixed-line infrastructure and topographic issues; investment is focused on mobile infrastructure and an emergency telecom network for natural disasters; extended LTE to 60% of all mobile Internet users; regulator developing 5G plan; international communication through landline and microwave relay; nascent satellite service; importer of broadcast equipment from India (2021)

(2020)

domestic: 3 to 100 fixed-line, 96 to 100 mobile cellular; domestic service inadequate, notably in rural areas (2019)

international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

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 media

state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet users

total: 368,714

percent of population: 48.11% (July 2018 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 8,774

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.04 (2019 est.)