s; installation of a
national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia
services international: (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating
with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an
international fiber-optic network

Radio broadcast stations: AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11
(1998)

Radios: 10.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 4.1 million (1997)

Internet country code: .ve

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 16 (2000)

Internet users: 950,000 (2001)

Transportation Venezuela

Railways: total: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge note:
248 km of the existing system are privately owned; passenger services
are nonexistent; however, a National Railways Plan, intended to provide
a significant railway system, has been initiated (2001)

Highways: total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km
(1997 est.)

Waterways: 7,100 km note: Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
oceangoing vessels

Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas
4,010 km

Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina,
Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz,
Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

Merchant marine: total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 716,361
GRT/1,267,095 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, United Kingdom 1,
United States 2 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 9, liquefied
gas 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 10,
short-sea passenger 1

Airports: 372 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 124 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to
3,047 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 17 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 248 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914
to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 140 (2001)

Heliports: 1 (2001)

Military Venezuela

Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or
FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito),
Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and
Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces
of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or
Guardia Nacional)

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military