Communications in Gibraltar

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1 Telecommunications
2 Broadcasting
3 Internet
4 External links

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Telecommunications

Until 1990, telephone services were operated by the Gibraltar Telephone Department. In that year, the Government of Gibraltar entered into two joint ventures with Nynex of the United States, and BT in the United Kingdom. Gibraltar Nynex Communications (GNC) became responsible for fixed line telephony, and international calls to Spain, while Gibtel (partly owned by BT) became responsible for all other international calls and mobile telephone services. In 2002, BT sold its 50 per cent stake in Gibtel, which merged with GNC to form Gibtelecom, a joint venture between the Government of Gibraltar and Nynex's successor company, Verizon.

Telecommunication services in Gibraltar have been subject to Spanish restrictions. Spain refuses to recognise Gibraltar's international dialling code +350, instead treating Gibraltar as part of the Cadiz province's telephone exchange, using the code 9567. This has restricted the expansion of Gibraltar's telephone numbering plan, as only 30 000 numbers can be dialled directly from Spain.

This has also affected international calls from the rest of the world, because carriers using least cost routing, especially in the US, route calls to Gibraltar via Spain, which prevents calls dialled using the code +350 from terminating in Gibraltar. Consequently, the caller hears a recorded announcement saying that the number dialled does not exist. Even when calls routed via Spain are allowed to terminate in Gibraltar, under the 'sender keeps all' arrangement, Telefónica in Spain is able to keep revenue from these calls, instead of paying Gibtelecom's international termination charges. Although all other countries and territories recognise the +350 dialling code, not all networks block calls to Gibraltar made using the Spanish code +34 9567, which allows subscribers to call Gibraltar for the cost of a call to Spain.

Gibtelecom is also prevented from having roaming agreements with Spanish GSM networks, thereby preventing its mobile phones from working in Spain. Gibtelecom has roaming arrangements with local GSM networks in most other countries.

Owing to the demand for mobile phones, Gibraltar has introduced new number ranges, but these cannot be dialled directly from Spain. For example, Gibtelecom's pre-paid services have eight-digit numbers with the prefix 540, but when using the 9567 prefix from Spain, the last three digits are not recognised, and callers are required to re-enter the eight digit number, during which time they are being charged. However, if the number is dialled from the rest of the world using the +350 prefix, the call will be terminated in Gibraltar without problem.

The telecommunications infrastructure in Gibraltar is modelled on that of the UK; for example; the ringing tone of fixed telephone lines is identical to that of the UK, although that of mobile phones may resemble that of mainland Europe, with long tones. Telephone jacks are also British Standard BS 6312, as opposed to the RJ-11 versions found in the rest of mainland Europe.

It is a popular myth among travel writers that Gibraltar still has traditional red British-style telephone boxes; very few are to be found in use.

Telephones - Numbers in use: 25,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 10,000 (2006 estimate)

Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic: Digital exchange facilities
international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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Broadcasting

The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation operates Radio Gibraltar on both FM and AM, broadcasting a mix of local programming in English and Spanish, and retransmissions of the BBC World Service. In December 2005, GBC started internet streaming of its radio service on the Internet, which, along with an up-to-date programme guide for GBC television and radio, can be found on the website

GBC TV is transmitted on VHF Channel 12 with UHF repeaters. Until 1999, GBC TV retransmitted BBC Prime, but was relaunched as a community-based service focusing on local news and other items of local interest. GBC programming starts at around 19.30 and finishes before midnight with the most popular programme being the local news bulletin, News Watch at 20.30. During the day fillers and the sound of GBC radio are transmitted. Most homes have access to satellite television from the United Kingdom, and also receive television and radio from Spain.

The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates two radio stations on FM, BFBS1 and BFBS2 and a private cable television network. BFBS1 and 2 are also available on the Internet, but are not actually streamed from Gibraltar.

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0, Internet 1 (2005)

Radios: 37,000 (1997) - Radio licences now discontinued

Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (2002)

Television Licences: 7,452 (2002)

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Internet

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 GibNet, a private company, began internet services in 1996, in 2005 it merged with Broadband Gibraltar Limited to form Sapphire Networks Limited.

GNC Networks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gibraltar Nynex Communications, commenced services in 1997. GNC Networks was renamed Gibconnect in 2002. ADSL services were not introduced until 2002: the relatively high cost of the service had meant that take-up from residential customers and small businesses was initially slow. However by 2005, there were several thousand users.

In addition to reselling Gibtelecom's ADSL service, Sapphire Networks provides its own broadband internet services known as Metro Internet, but coverage is presently limited to a small area of Gibraltar.

Local Loop Unbundling has not yet been introduced in Gibraltar, as the relevant legislation has not been passed into law. A Communications Ordinance, similar to the UK's 2003 Comunications Act, is still being drafted and has not been brought before the House of Assembly. In December 2005, the European Commission initiated the second stage of infringement proceedings against the British government relating to Gibraltar’s failure to transpose five European Union directives on electronic communications. [1]

Country code (Top-level domain): GI

Calling code: 350

GSM Network Identifier : GIBTEL

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