Editing Telecommunications in Nicaragua (section)

==Internet==

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.ni]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 773,240 users, 121st in the world; 13.5% of the population, 159th in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs,  U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 95,023 subscriptions, 102nd in the world; 1.7% of the population, 131st in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: 58,365 subscriptions, 123rd in the world; 1.0% of the population, 133rd in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 296,068 hosts, 63rd in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[IPv4]]: 369,408 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 64.5 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[Internet Service Provider]]s: 5 ISPs (1999);{{update after|2014|1|14}} cable internet in widespread use; [[DSL]] and [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] available in major cities.{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or Internet [[chat rooms]]; however, several NGOs claim the government monitors their [[e-mail]]. Individuals and groups engage in the expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail and [[social media]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

The constitution provides for [[freedom of speech]] and [[Freedom of the press|press]], but the government used administrative, judicial, and financial means to limit the exercise of these rights. Although the law provides that the [[Freedom of information|right to information]] cannot be subjected to [[censorship]], it also establishes retroactive liability, including criminal penalties for [[libel|libel and slander]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

During the November 2012 municipal elections, a popular Web site that allowed voters to register complaints or allegations of [[election fraud]] was apparently [[Hacker (computer security)|hacked]] on several occasions and forced to shut for significant portions of the day. Certain NGOs claimed the Web site was tampered with to prevent dissemination of voter complaints. During 2012 there were several reported cases of threats and violence against the press. On December 11, the spokesman of the Supreme Court of Justice publicly accused the online newsweekly Confidential of being financed by narcotics trafficking organizations, an allegation rights groups said was politically motivated.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204465 "Nicaragua"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 21 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.</ref>