es by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the
Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable,
Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for
international communications; Inmarsat also provides an
international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth
stations - NA (1998)

Vanuatu:
general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

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

Venezuela:
general assessment: modern and expanding

domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent
substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services

international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an
international fiber-optic network

Vietnam:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort
into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system,
but its performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern
neighbors

domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; since 1991, main lines in use have
been substantially increased and the use of mobile telephones is
growing rapidly

international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)

Virgin Islands:
general assessment: NA

domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations - NA

Wake Island:
general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN
circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)

domestic: NA

international: NA

Wallis and Futuna:
general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: NA

West Bank:
general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: NA

note: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are
responsible for communication services in the West Bank

Western Sahara:
general assessment: sparse and limited system