Infrastructure ( Telecom )

Telephone services have expanded rapidly over the last decade. During 1982-86, the government invested $2 billion in communicati9ons annually, a figure representing some 7.7% of its total annual investment.

By 1988, over 11 million telephone lines had been provided to some 10 million subscribers. Virtually every home in the country now has its own telephone. All telephone circuits are connected by automatic switching systems.

By the year 2001, a total of 22 million telephone lines will be installed, thus putting the telephone supply rate on a par with today's advanced countries at around 40 telephones per 100 people.

As for toll telephones, the Ministry of Communications has completed a nationwide network services digital switching systems in 22 major cities. International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) has been available since 1987 and at present extends to 172 regions in 148 countries. The government plans to meet the demand for telephone services and concurrently to replace outdated systems through the provision of one million new lines per year. The ministry has initiated a toll rebate system for long-distance and international calls at night. Starting in 1998, a business hour (21:00-08.00) rate has been in effect.