Telecommunications in Bulgaria

Telephones – main lines in use: 2.3 million (2007)

Telephones – mobile cellular: 9.87 million (2007) (110% penetration rate)

Telephone system:

• General assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now exceeds the population
• Domestic: a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay
• International: country code – 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations – 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radio broadcast hours: 525,511 (2003)

Television broadcast stations: 39 (2001)

Television broadcast hours: 498,091 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 200+ only in the capital of Sofia (2005)
300+ in the rest ot the country

• The usual Internet speeds are higher than in many European states, with 1 MB/s being the lowest limit.

Internet hosts: 513,470 (2008)

Internet users: 1.899 million (2007)

Country code: .bg