The domestic telecommunications infrastructure is very inadequate. Most fixed line telephones are located inAsmara, the capital and largest city. Cell phones are in increasing use throughout the country. The government is seeking international tenders to improve the system.[2]
On 13 April 2006, Eritrea received a soft loan from the government ofChina to upgrade their communication infrastructure. The total sum loaned toEriTel was $23 million. All major cities are connected to the mobile telephone system in Eritrea except forAssab, as of 2023.
The government controls all broadcast media with private ownership prohibited. Purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted.[2]
Listed as Under Surveillance byReporters Without Borders (RWB) in 2008, 2009, not in 2010, and again from 2011 to 2012.[7]
Eritrea has not set up a widespread automatic Internet filtering system, but it does not hesitate to order blocking of several diaspora websites critical of the regime. Access to these sites is blocked by two of the Internet service providers, Erson and Ewan, as arepornographic websites[dubious –discuss]andYouTube.Self-censorship is said to be widespread.[8]
