4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995), 1,570.23 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.414 million (1998)

Telephone system: Azerbaijani telecommunications fall under the
Ministry of Communications; Azerbaijan's telephone system is a
combination of old Soviet era technology used by Azerbaijani
citizens and small- to medium-size commercial establishments, and
modern cellular phones used by an increasing middle class, large
commercial ventures, international companies, and most government
officials; the average citizen waits on a 200,000-person list for
telephone service; Internet and E-mail service are available in Baku
domestic: local--the majority of telephones are in Baku or other
industrial centers; intercity--about 700 villages still do not have
public phone service; all long distance service must use Azertel's
(Ministry of Communications) lines; satellite service connects Baku
to a modern switch in its separated enclave to Nakhichevan
international: the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still
serviceable; satellite service between Baku and Turkey provides
access to 200 countries; additional satellite providers supply
services between Baku and specific countries; Azerbaijan is a
signator of the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); their
lines are not laid but the Turkish satellite and a microwave between
Azerbaijan and Iran can provide Azerbaijan worldwide access through
this system

Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (Azerbaijan's
single shortwave station transmits its programs to the Middle East
in eight languages)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2; note--the Ministry of
Communications is the monopoly broadcaster and rebroadcaster of
television in Azerbaijan; Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian, Iranian,
British broadcasting companies, Voice of America, and other European
channels are available via satellite; television is broadcast to
Nakhichevan by satellite

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
total: 57,770 km
paved: 54,188 km
unpaved: 3,582 km (1995 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural
gas 1,240 km

Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki)

Merchant marine: