Telecommunications in Guatemala include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Radio and television

  • Radio stations: 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2007).[1]
  • Radios: 835,000 (1997).
  • Television stations: 4 privately owned national terrestrial channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available (2007).[1]
  • Television sets: 640,000 (1997).

Telephones

Guatemala's incumbent telephone company is TELGUA, which won the bidding for the privatization of the government run GUATEL.

International Operator Brand Users Technology Web Site
América Móvil Claro/PCS Digital 3,591,138 (June 2007) CDMA 1x EVDO Rev 0 1900 MHz, GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSPA 1900 MHz (1.5 Mbit/s) with video calling and data services available. Claro Guatemala
Telefónica Movistar 2,514,612 (June 2007) CDMA 1x EVDO Rev A 1900 MHz and GSM/GPRS/EDGE 1900 MHz, UMTS/HSPA 1900 MHz (7.2 Mbit/s) with data services only available. Movistar Guatemala
Millicom / Local partners TIGO/COMCEL 3,116,998 (June 2007) TDMA/N-AMPS (to be shut down) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 850 MHz (3.6 Mbit/s) with video calling and data services available TIGO Guatemala
Digicel Group Digicel must be launched before June 18, 2008   Planned GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900 MHz Digicel Group

Internet

Year Users
2002 ~200,000
2003 ~600,000
2004 ~1.0 million
2005 ~1.7 million
2006 ~2.4 million
2007 ~3.8 million
2009[1] ~2.3 million, 72nd in the world
2012[4][5] ~2.3 million, 86th in the world; 16.0% of the population, 153rd in the world

Internet censorship and surveillance

In 2011 the OpenNet Initiative reported no evidence of Internet filtering in Guatemala.[8]

Guatemala's constitution protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and individual privacy, however, government officials routinely violate these rights. Recent constitutional reforms have legalized various electronic surveillance techniques that threaten online privacy.[8]

  • The Ley de Proteccion Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents) permits the restriction of content for children younger than eighteen years of age if it is deemed harmful to their development. Media outlets and organizers of public events are required to evaluate and classify programmed content according to this law.[8]
  • The Ley de Emisión del Pensamiento (Law on Expression of Thought) prohibits libel, slander, and treason in printed form, and stipulates that the author of any publication containing an opinion that the judiciary considers to be subversive, morally damaging, or "disrespectful" of private life may be subject to punishment. The Law on Expression of Thought explicitly requires newspapers that have incorrectly attributed acts to or published false information about people or entities to publish any corrections, explanations, or refutations sent to them by those they have accused. In cases of printed material that involves treason, is subversive, is "damaging to morals," or contains slander or libel, newspapers may be subject to a trial by jury; decisions may be appealed within 48 hours. The law makes an exception when the offended party is a government employee or official: if the offending content concerns "purely official acts" related to government work, the case will be judged in a "court of honor," and the decision will be final and closed to appeal.[8]
  • The Ley de Orden Público (Law of Public Order) states that if the government has declared the country to be "in a state of siege," journalists must "refrain from publishing anything that might cause confusion or panic."[8]

See also

References

  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2014 edition)
  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State.
  • Source for telephone numbers - prensalibre.com.gt
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Communications: Guatemala", World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010)), Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Telephone System terms and abbreviations", World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012" Archived 2017-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013
  5. ↑ "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012", International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013
  6. ↑ "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Country profile: Guatemala", OpenNet Initiative, 15 July 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
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