Editing Telecommunications in Mongolia (section)

==Internet==
The Internet, established in 1995 in Mongolia,<ref name="pr">{{cite web |url=http://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Mongolia.html |title=Mongolia: Basic Data |website=Press Reference |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> has begun making a significant impact, with 68.1% of the population having access to it as of 2020.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Mongolia is the most sparsely [[Population|populated]] independent country in the world, which is a serious constraint to country-wide Internet deployment.<ref name="UNPD" /> While much of the country remains pastoral with countryside residents dependent on herding and agriculture, Internet access is widely available to urban populations.<ref name="CROHRP-Mongolia-2012" /> There has been steady online growth in [[online newspapers]], magazines and advertising.<ref name="baner">{{cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Indrajit |last2=Logan |first2=Stephen |date=2008 |title=Asian Communication Handbook |location=Singapore |publisher=Asian Media Information and Communication Centre |isbn=978-981-4136-10-5}}</ref> The poor access to the Internet in the countryside has been a reason behind designating Mongolian countryside as a digital detox location for the tech-tired tourists.<ref name="destinations" />
* Internet users: 2,233,000 users; 68.1% of the population (2020).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Digital 2020: Mongolia|url=https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-mongolia|access-date=2020-10-21|website=DataReportal – Global Digital Insights|date=18 February 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Asia Internet Usage Stats Facebook and 2020 Population Statistics|url=https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm|access-date=2020-10-21|website=www.internetworldstats.com}}</ref>
* Fixed broadband: 115,561 subscriptions, 98th in the world; 3.6% of the population, 114th in the world (2012).<ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx |title=Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012 |website=International Telecommunication Union |access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>
* Mobile broadband: 848,391 subscriptions, 75th in the world; 26.7% of the population, 61st in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx |title=Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012 |website=International Telecommunication Union |access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>
* Internet hosts: 20,084 hosts, 118th in the world (2012).<ref name="cia-fb-2013">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mongolia/ |chapter=Mongolia Communications |title=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=31 October 2013}}</ref>
* The [[top level domain]] of Mongolia is "[[.mn]]".<ref name="cia-fb-2013" />

===Internet service providers (ISPs)===
;Wholesale providers
*[[Information Communications Network LLC|Information Communications Network LLC /NETCOM/]]
*Gemnet LLC
*Mobicom Networks LLC
*MT Networks
*Unitel
*Skytel

;Retail providers
*Mongolia Telecom Company
*Univision[MCSCom]
*Boldsoft
*Digicom (FTTB)
*Mobinet
*Magicnet
*Micom
*Bodicom
*Skymedia[SkyC&C]
*Yokozunanet
*Citinet
*HOMENET
*G-mobilenet

;Satellite providers
*[[DDishTV LLC]], provides [[VSAT]] Internet connections, especially in rural area of Mongolia.
*Incomnet LLC,<ref name="incomnet" /> provides data communications network services throughout Mongolia, as well as [[satellite telephone]] call and [[satellite Internet]] services in remote areas since its establishment in 2001.
*Isatcom LLC,<ref name="isatcom" /> national satellite provider in Mongolia, provides [[VSAT]] Internet connections, VPN network for organizations in rural areas of Mongolia, since its establishment in 2004. Also involved in the sale of solar energy equipment.

===Internet initiatives===
Citizens Information Service Centers (CISC) have been established in Ulaanbataar and six Aimags that are equipped to allow nomadic rural populations to receive internet access.<ref name="it4dev" />

Many [[libraries]] and [[Education|schools]] provide internet access, including some mobile providers that travel between rural populations.

The [[Asian Development Bank]] has an initiative to develop ICT technologies to "boost access to high-quality education for disadvantaged and remote populations in Mongolia, through a grant assistance approved for US$1 million."<ref name="adb" /> The goal is to take advantage of newer technologies to improve access to information for about 10,000 students at 36 schools.

===Internet censorship and surveillance===
There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet. The criminal code and constitution prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, however, there are reports of government [[surveillance]], [[wiretapping]], and [[Computer surveillance|e-mail account monitoring]]. Individuals and groups engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail. [[Defamation]] laws carrying civil and criminal penalties severely impede criticism of government officials.<ref name="CROHRP-Mongolia-2012">{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204222 |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Mongolia |date=15 August 2013 |website=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State |access-date=31 October 2013}}</ref> Moreover, in 2014 the Mongolian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has published a list of up to 774 words and phrases, use of which is prohibited on local websites.<ref name="observer" />

Censorship of public information is banned under the 1998 Media Freedom Law, but a 1995 state secrets law severely limits access to government information. After an eight-year campaign by activists, the parliament passed the Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information in June 2011, with the legislation taking effect in December 2011. Internet users remain concerned about a February 2011 regulation, the "General Conditions and Requirements on Digital Content", by the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) that restricts obscene and inappropriate content without explicitly defining it and requires popular websites to make their users' IP addresses publicly visible. The production, sale, or display of all pornography is illegal and carries a penalty of up to three months in prison.<ref name="FH-FOTP-Mongolia-2013">{{cite web|date=2013|title=Mongolia: Freedom of the Press|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/mongolia|access-date=31 October 2013|website=[[Freedom House]]}}</ref><ref name="CROHRP-Mongolia-2012" />

While there is no official censorship by the government, journalists frequently complain of harassment and intimidation.<ref name="FH-FOTP-Mongolia-2013" />