Communications in Austria

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2008)

This article concerns the systems of telecommunication in Austria. Austria has a highly developed and efficient telephone network, and has a number of radio and television broadcast stations. The country code for Austria is "AT".

Telephone and Internet

As of 2004, Austria possesses around four million main telephone lines, of which 3.6 million are analogue main lines, with a further 400 000 Integrated Services Digital Network connections. Additionally, there are 300 000 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines. In terms of mobile telecom, in 2005, there were 8,153,900 mobile telephones in use. There are 37 internet service providers in Austria, serving 3.7 million internet users.

The telephone system is well developed and efficient and domestically, there are 48 main lines to every 100 people. Fibre-optic coverage is extensive and a full range of telephone and internet services are available via the network. In terms of international communications, Austria has 2 Intelsat satellite earth stations (one Atlantic Ocean and one Indian Ocean), and one Eutelsat satellite earth station. Additionally, there are around 600 very small aperture terminals, as of 2002.

Mobile Phone Networks

The Austrian mobile phone market is highly competitive, with one of the cheapest rates in Europe.

First Generation Networks D-Netz by Austrian Telekom. This network was switched off at the end of the 1990s.

Second Generation Networks

• A1: originally mobilkom. It now runs a mixed GSM-900 and GSM-1800 network. Provides a 2nd and 3rd generation mobile technology. Provides a 2nd and 3rd generation mobile technology. bob and B-free are also using the A1 network
• t-mobile: originally max mobil. It now runs a mixed GSM-900 and GSM-1800 network. Provides a 2nd and 3rd generation mobile technology.
• telering: Part of t-mobile, but marketed as a separate brand.
• Orange: originally One (till September 2008). A pure GSM-1800 network. Yess! is also using the Orange network
• Drei (3): belongs to Hutchinson Whampoa, a Hong Kong based company

Third Generation Networks

• 3: Using a pure 3G network

The three 2G companies all won 3G licences in a competitive auction, as did a new entrant known as 3. They have now rolled out their networks.

Some time ago one you determine the operator by the the number prefix of the telephone number, but this has faded after the user was able to port his/her number, when switching from one operator to another.

• +43 664 ...: A1
• +43 676 ...: t-mobile
• +43 650 ...: telering
• +43 699 ...: Orange
• +43 660 ...: Drei (3)

Broadband Internet access

Internet in Austria is typically received over DSL and cable. However, mobile services employing UMTS/HSDPA are rapidly gaining ground due to fierce market competition. SDSL and mobile phone access is also available.

The main ISP's in Austria are: Telekom Austria [1] (incumbent), UPC[2] (offering Cable access under the Chello[3] brand and DSL access as Inode[4]), Tele2[5], and Kabelsignal[6] offering cable services in the area south of Vienna.

Some cable and DSL contracts offer reductions for university students.

Radio and television

There are 2 AM, 160 FM and 1 shortwave radio broadcast stations, with several hundred FM repeaters. In 1997, there were 6.08 million radios in Austria. In terms of television, there are 45 broadcast stations, with in excess of 1000 repeaters. These serve the 4.25 million televisions in the country (by 1997 figures).

The largest broadcasting cooperations are:

• ORF
• ATV: privately held
• pulsTV: privately held

See also

• Austria
• Area codes in Austria

References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.