Editing Telecommunications in Armenia (section)

==Internet==
{{As of|2009}}, there were approximately 1,400,000 Internet users and approximately 65,279 Internet hosts in Armenia.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>{{better source|date=October 2024}} The country code (Top level domain) for Armenia is [[.am]], which has been used for AM radio stations and for domain hacks.<ref>Country_code_top-level_domain#Commercial_and_vanity_use</ref>

The national communications company [[Telecom Armenia|Armentel]]'s (now Telecom Armenia OJSC) only fiber optic connection to the Internet enters Armenia through Georgia (via [[Marneuli]])<ref>[http://www.arminco.com/en/updates/2008/06/05/fibernet1/ ''Fiber Optic Cable Damage in Georgia''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209022506/http://www.arminco.com/en/updates/2008/06/05/fibernet1/ |date=2008-12-09 }}, Arminco, June 5, 2008.</ref> and then connects to the rest of the Internet via an undersea fiber-optic cable in the [[Black Sea]].<ref name="Eurasianet-Aug-7-2006">[http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/armenia/hypermail/200608/0009.shtml ''Armenia Suffers Widespread Internet Outage''], EurasiaNet, August 7, 2006.</ref> Armenia is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable system via Georgia, which runs along the railroad from [[Poti]] to [[Tbilisi]] to the Armenian border near Marneuli.<ref>[http://www.gfsis.org/pub/files/publications_security/gegeshidze_Georgias_Function_As_A_Transit_Country.doc ''Georgia's Function as a Transit Country and Sustainable Development''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305151128/http://www.gfsis.org/pub/files/publications_security/gegeshidze_Georgias_Function_As_A_Transit_Country.doc |date=2009-03-05 }}, [[Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies]].</ref>  At Poti, the TAE cable connects to the undersea Georgia-Russia system [[KAFOS (cable system)|KAFOS]] which then connects to the [[BSFOCS|Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System]].<ref>[http://www.bsfocs.com/connectivity.php ''Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System: Connectivity''], Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System.</ref>  The BSFOCS is co-owned by Armentel.<ref>[http://www.bsfocs.com/owners.php ''BSFOCS: Owners''], Black Sea Fiber Optic Cable System.</ref>
[[GNC-Alfa]] is the largest independent internet and data provider in Armenia with 1,500&nbsp;km fibre-optic cable infrastructure, and covering 70% of Armenia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rostelecom acquires 75% minus one share stake in Armenia's GNC-ALFA |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/02/03/rostelecom-acquires-75-minus-one-share-stake-in-armenias-gnc-alfa/ |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref>

===Dial-up===
[[Dial-up Internet access|Dial-up]] was the main type of connectivity in Armenia for several years. The [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP) supported dial-up internet, starting with an office in Armenia in 1997, and developing a network called "Freenet" that reached 6000 users by the year 2000, with 1000 websites and each user having 3 Mb of email storage space and 3 Mb of website storage. By 2004, usage grew to 21,000 users and 3000 websites, with increased storage. A local "Yerevan Internet Exchange" was established, initial based on radio connections and by 2004 mostly on DSL connections. The UNDP viewed the role of the internet as promoting democracy, with online forums discussing human rights, the environment, political parties and the Armenian constitution.<ref name="UNPAN_browsing_democracy">{{cite Q|Q130681384}}</ref> In 2008, dial-up connections expanded when Telecom Armenia OJSC ([[Beeline (brand)|Beeline TM]]) started operation of an [[ADSL]] network and together with VivaCell-MTS (now Viva Armenia) and [[Orange Armenia]] also introduced portable [[Mobile broadband modem|USB-modems]], which are operated mainly in 3G networks and are still{{when|date=October 2024}} very popular in rural areas especially in small mountainous villages where landline connectivity is not available.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

===Broadband===
According to official statistics from the International Telecommunication Union, the number of [[broadband]] subscribers in Armenia in 2017 was 315,319 users or 10.76 users per 100 persons.<ref name="Statistics"/>

====ADSL====
A major part of DSL connectivity is offered by Telecom Armenia OJSC (Beeline TM). Some other [[Internet service provider|ISPs]] ([[Arminco]], WEB, Bionet and others) also offer DSL connectivities mainly using leased infrastructure of Telecom Armenia OJSC.

====WiMAX====
Rapid development of [[WiMAX]] was recorded in 2008–2010. Two WiMAX providers, namely Icon Communications and Cornet Ltd. operating in the 3.6–3.8&nbsp;GHz band using IEEE 802.16e reached 2000 users each, but shortly disappeared from the market due to strong competition with ADSL and FTTB operators. Cornet was closed and Icon Communications was acquired by Telecom Armenia OJSC (Beeline TM).

====FTTB====
[[Fiber to the x|Fibre to the building]] broadband connectivity is offered by at least four major operators, namely Viva Armenia, Ucom, Telecom Armenia OJSC (operated under Beeline TM) and GNC-Alfa (operated under [[Rostelecom|Rostelecom TM]]). All three companies offer triple play services including internet, [[IPTV]] and telephone services.

===Internet censorship===
Listed as engaged in substantial filtering in the political area and selective filtering in the social, conflict/security, and internet tools areas by the [[OpenNet Initiative]] (ONI) in November 2010.<ref name=ONI-Armenia-Nov2010>[http://opennet.net/research/profiles/armenia "ONI Country Profile: Armenia"], OpenNet Initiative, 17 November 2010</ref>

Access to the internet in Armenia is largely unfettered, although evidence of second and third-generation filtering is mounting. Armenia's political climate is volatile and largely unpredictable. In times of political unrest, the government has not hesitated to put in place restrictions on the internet as a means to curtail public protest and discontent.<ref name="ONI-Armenia-Nov2010"/> According to Article 11 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Police, law enforcement has the right to block content to prevent criminal activity.<ref>Article 11 of the [http://www.parliament.am/legislation.php?sel=show&ID=1271&lang=eng Law of the Republic of Armenia on Police], adopted on 16 April 2001, Official Bulletin No 15(147) of 31 May 2001.</ref>

Armenia's internet access is delivered by Russian providers, occasionally resulting in censorship by Russian ISPs. In 2012 Russian authorities blocked kavkazcenter.com, resulting in it being blocked in Armenia.<ref>[http://media.am/en/blocked-website-in-armenia "Armenia Subject to Censorship from Russia"], Media.am, 25 December 2012. Retrieved on 14 December 2014.</ref> In 2014 five other websites were blocked due to filtering by the Russian telecommunications regulator [[Roskomnadzor]]. ISPs claimed the blocks were due to technical error and were removed.<ref name=FH-Armenia-2014>[https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2014/armenia "Freedom on the Net 2014: Armenia"], Freedom House. Retrieved on 14 December 2014.</ref>

===2011 Armenian internet outage===
The 2011 Armenian internet outage occurred in April 2011 when an elderly woman from [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] accidentally cut through an underground cable giving internet access to Armenia.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-04-06|title=Georgian woman cuts off web access to whole of Armenia|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/06/georgian-woman-cuts-web-access|access-date=2021-03-05|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Little Old Lady With Shovel Disrupts Internet In 2 Nations|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/07/135201463/little-old-lady-with-shovel-disrupts-internet-in-2-nations|access-date=2021-03-08|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lomsadze|first=Giorgi|date=2011-04-08|title=A Shovel Cuts Off Armenia's Internet|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704630004576249013084603344|access-date=2021-03-08|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>