Bhutan Communications 2021, CIA World Factbook

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.)

NOTE: The information regarding Bhutan on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bhutan 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.