service quality
domestic: predominantly an analog system that is now receiving
digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable,
especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been
added
international: country code - 421; three international exchanges
(one in Bratislava and two in Banska Bystrica) are available;
Slovakia is participating in several international
telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of
external services

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
3.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 national broadcasting, 7 regional, 67 local (2004)

Televisions:
2.62 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.sk

Internet hosts:
89,592 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
1,375,800 (2003)

Transportation Slovakia

Railways:
total: 3,661 km
broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 49 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2003)

Highways:
total: 42,717 km
paved: 37,036 km (including 296 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,681 km (2000)

Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Bratislava, Komarno

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 41,891 GRT/63,185 DWT
by type: bulk 4, cargo 4
foreign-owned: Bulgaria 3, Estonia 1, Greece 1, India 1, Liberia 1,
Panama 1 (2004 est.)

Airports:
34 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)

Military Slovakia

Military branches:
Ground Forces (including Home Guard [Domobrana]), Air and Air
Defense Forces (January 2003)

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age (conscripts serve nine months of basic military
service; term of service will be reduced to six months effective
2004) complete transition to an all-volunteer professional force is
planned for 1 January 2007; 82% of Slovak armed forces will be
volunteers by December 2004; volunteers include women, with minimum
age of 17 years; 18 years of age for