Eritrea Communications 2021, CIA World Factbook

total subscriptions: 116,882

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.94 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 1,226,660

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.36 (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: least developed telecommunications market in Africa, largely due to restrictions of state-owned telecom monopoly; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; cell phone use is limited by government control of SIM card issuance; low penetration of computer use and Internet; market ripe for competition and investment; direct phone service between Eritrea and Ethiopia restored in September 2018; government operator working on roll-out of 3G network (2020) (2020)

domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 person and mobile-cellular 20 per 100 (2019)

international: country code - 291 (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 media

government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2 networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2019)

Internet country code

.er

Internet users

total: 78,215

percent of population: 1.31% (July 2018 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 600

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Eritrea 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 Eritrea 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Eritrea 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.