n service and mobile cellular
telephone network

domestic: NA

international: radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to
India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Netherlands:
general assessment: highly developed and well
maintained

domestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is
gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of
cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further
modernization of the system is expected in the year 2001, with the
introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM)

international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)

Netherlands Antilles:
general assessment: generally adequate
facilities

domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

New Caledonia:
general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

New Zealand:
general assessment: excellent domestic and
international systems

domestic: NA

international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Nicaragua:
general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by
foreign investment

domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being
expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System

international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Niger:
general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the
southwestern area of Niger

domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned

international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Nigeria:
general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited
by poor maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has
been made

domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, a domestic communications satellit