Page last updated on June 20, 2014

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.425 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36
[see also: Telephones - main lines in use country ranks ]

Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.928 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
[see also: Telephones - mobile cellular country ranks ]

Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology and expansion of the network to rural areas; the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country
domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone subscribership nearly 60 per 100 persons in 2011
international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2011)

Broadcast media:
state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and a satellite channel; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2007)

Internet country code:
.sy

Internet hosts:
416 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 187
[see also: Internet hosts country ranks ]

Internet users:
4.469 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
[see also: Internet users country ranks ]