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Saudi Arabia
Telecommunications
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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