system based on islandwide microwave
radio relay network

international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios: 1.44 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 25 (1997)

Televisions: 770,000 (1997)

Internet country code: .do

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 24 (2000)

Internet users: 25,000 (1999)

Dominican Republic Transportation

Railways: total: 757 km

standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)

narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government
Railway)

note: 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges
(0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (2000)

Highways: total: 12,600 km

paved: 6,224 km

unpaved: 6,376 km (1996)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de
Macoris, Santo Domingo

Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587
GRT/1,165 DWT

ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: 29 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 13

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,281,035 (2001
est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49:
1,430,776 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 87,404
(2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $180 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY98)

Dominican Republic Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy
from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada

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@Ecuador

Ecuador Introduction

Background: The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries
that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia