Telephones

Communication and Transportation

The Dominican Republic has a highly developed telecommunications system in the Latin American context. The country enjoys many of the technological advances in communication: residential and cellular telephone service, beepers, faxes, Internet access (dial-up as well as wireless), "frame relay" interconnection networks for commercial links, among many others. Regarding transportation, the country has notably improved its infrastructure, and currently boasts thousands of kilometers of highways and railroads, as well as various national and international ports and airports.

The Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL), created by the General Law of Telecommunications No. 153-98, is the body of the State that regulates and supervises the development of the telecommunications market in the Dominican Republic. Its mission is to regulate and promote the supply of telecommunications services for the benefit of society, in the framework of free, loyal and effective competition.

The Secretaría de Estado de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones (SEOPC) has the responsibility of adequately planning, projecting, constructing and conserving the public works necessary for the sustained economic growth of the country, ensuring its quality and secure functioning, respecting the environment and introducing modern administration and technology systems.

Telephones:

• Number of residential lines (2005): 633,020
• Number of business lines (2005): 265,034
• Total public lines (2005): 12,582