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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Saudi Arabia
Index
In 1991 Saudi Arabia had one of the most modern
telecommunications systems in the world. An extensive system of
microwave and coaxial cables crisscrossed the country and linked
Saudi Arabia with Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen. Tropospheric-scatter radio linked the
kingdom with Sudan and undersea coaxial cables extended from
points on the west coast to Egypt and to Djibouti. Telephone
service was entirely automatic, and international direct-distance
dialing was available to all subscribers. In 1991 the country
counted 1.6 million telephones or about eleven telephones per 100
inhabitants.
Eight satellite ground stations provided worldwide
transmission of telephone, telex, data, ship-to-shore, and
broadcast signals. Five satellite ground stations operated with
the International Telecommunication Satellite Corporation
(Intelsat) Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean satellites. In
addition, two satellite ground stations in the Arab Satellite
Communications Organization (Arabsat) network could
simultaneously handle 8,000 telephone calls and seven separate
television channels to the twenty-two member countries of the
Arabsat system. Another satellite ground station was linked to
the International Marine Satellite system that provided
communications to ships at sea.
Broadcast facilities were scattered across the country and
most locations could receive at least one radio station. More
than 100 transmitters provided television service to all urban
areas. There were an estimated 5 million radio receivers and 4.5
million television sets in 1991.
Data as of December 1992
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