General

Egypt has long been the cultural and informational centre of the Arab world, and Cairo is the region's largest publishing and broadcasting centre.

An Overview

Telephones - main lines in use :
9.6 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular :
8,583,940 (2005)

Telephone system :
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available
domestic: principal centres at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 20; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations :
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Television broadcast stations :
98 (September 1995)

Internet country code :
.eg

Internet hosts :
3,401 (2004)

Internet users :
4.2 million (2005)