Infrastructure (Telecom)

Brunei Darussalam has one of the best telecommunication systems in South-East Asia and has major plans for improving it further. With an estimated population of about 305,100 in mid 1996, the rate of telephone availability is currently 1 telephone for every 3 persons.

There are two earth satellite stations providing international direct dialing telephone and a full range of telex and facsimile links to most parts of the world. Several systems currently in operation serving the country include an analogue telephone exchange, fibre-optic cable links with Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, a packet switching exchange for access to high speed computer bases overseas, cellular mobile telephone, paging system and voice mail. Direct telephone links are available to the remotest parts of the country through microwave and solar-powered telephones. Public pay phones, which operates using coins or cards, are located at major shopping areas. Phone cards can be purchased from Telecom offices, Post Offices and other authorised vendors. This is being continually upgraded. The Ministry of Communication is currently building the infrastructure that will bring Brunei Darussalam into the multimedia global village. Under its RAGAM 21 project, a network infrastructure based on the "synchronous digital hierachy" technology will provide the backbone and flatform for electronic commerce, electronic government, distance learning, smart schools and tele medicine.