Editing Telecommunications in Nicaragua

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
'''Telecommunications in Nicaragua''' include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

==Radio and television==
{{See also |List of radio stations in Nicaragua |List of television stations in Latin America#Nicaragua |l2=List of television stations in Nicaragua}}

* [[Radio broadcasting|Radio stations]]:  More than 100 radio stations, nearly all privately owned; Radio Nicaragua is government-owned and Radio Sandino is controlled by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (2007).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nicaragua/ "Communications: Nicaragua"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.</ref>
* [[Receiver (radio)|Radios]]: 1.24 million (1997).{{update after|2014|1|14}}
* [[Television broadcasting|Television stations]]: Multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas (2007).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[Television set]]s: 320,000 (1997).{{update after|2014|1|14}}

===Media restrictions===
Independent media are active and express a variety of views. The government, however, restricts media freedom through harassment, censorship, arbitrary application of [[libel]] laws, and use of national security justifications. Private individuals also harass media for criticizing the government. [[Daniel Ortega|President Ortega]] frequently uses a law that allows for government broadcasts of emergency messages to force national networks either to broadcast his speeches or to cease other programming temporarily during those times.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

The government continues to close opposition radio stations and cancel opposition television programs, allegedly for political reasons. It also employs vandalism, the seizure of privately owned broadcast equipment, and criminal defamation charges against media outlet owners or program hosts to limit freedom and diversity of the press. Opposition news sources report that generally they were not permitted to enter official government events and are denied interviews by government officials.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

In June 2012 the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH) claimed that the [[Nicaraguan National Police]] (NNP) forcibly closed [[Somoto, Madriz|Somoto-based]] Television Channel 13 due to the station's reporting on government corruption. The owner of the station, Juan Carlos Pineda, claimed that NNP officials harassed and threatened him prior to the forced closure. There were no reports of an investigation, and at the end of 2012 the station remained closed.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

The Communications Research Centre of Nicaragua (CINCO) reported that control over television media by the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front]] (FSLN) and President Ortega strengthened throughout 2012. National television was increasingly either controlled by FSLN supporters or directly owned and administered by President Ortega's family members. Eight of the nine basic channels available were under direct FSLN influence.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

In general media outlets owned by the presidential family limited programming to progovernment or FSLN propaganda and campaign advertisements. Press and human rights organizations claimed that the use of state funds for official media placed opposition outlets at an unfair disadvantage.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

Some journalists practice [[self-censorship]], fearing economic and physical repercussions for investigative reporting on crime or official corruption.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

==Telephones==
{{See also |Telephone numbers in Nicaragua}}

* [[Calling code]]: +505<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[List of international call prefixes|International call prefix]]: 00<ref>[http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf ''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.</ref>
* Main lines: 320,000 lines in use, 112th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* Mobile cellular: 5.3 million lines, 108th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* Telephone system: System being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company; since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 85 per 100 persons (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[Communications satellite|Satellite earth stations]]: 1 [[Intersputnik]] ([[Atlantic Ocean]] region) and 1 [[Intelsat]] ([[Atlantic Ocean]]) (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>
* [[List of international submarine communications cables|Communications cables]]:  [[ARCOS-1|Americas Region Caribbean Ring System]] (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], parts of the [[Caribbean]], and the [[United States|US]] (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-Nicaragua-2014/>

==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>

==See also==
{{portal|Nicaragua}}
* [[Media of Nicaragua]]
* [[National University of Engineering (Nicaragua)]], registrar for the .ni domain.

==References==
{{reflist |32em}}
* {{CIA World Factbook |year=2014}}
* {{US DOS |year=2012}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nic.ni/index.php?s=1 NIC.ni], registrar for the .ni domain {{in lang|es}}.

{{Clear}}
{{Nicaragua topics}}
{{Americas topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}

[[Category:Communications in Nicaragua| ]]
[[Category:Telecommunications by country|Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Internet censorship by country|Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Telecommunications in Central America by country|Nicaragua]]