There is no independent
regulatory body in the telecommunications sector at present. Arbitration is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Transports and Telecommunications.
The public telephone operator, Office
des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT), provides basic telephone services. The
Société des Télécommunications
Internationales de Djibouti (STID) is responsible for international
telecommunications networks as well as for cellular and Internet services.
The government has already laid
the foundation for the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector. Legislation was
passed in March 1998 to separate the postal activities from the telecommunications, to
establish an independent regulatory authority and to create a private telecom
company. The latter will be fully owned by the government. In April 1998, a national
commission was set up to oversee the implementation of the plans of action.
ISDN and X.25 (DjiPac) services
are the other services provided by the telecommunications sector.
Société des
Télécommunications Internationales de Djibouti (STID) operates an AMPS cellular
covering a range of 40 km around the capital city, Djibouti. Plans to expand the network
to other cities and localities of the country has been suspended in order to undertake a
feasibility study which will enable the migration to a GSM cellular network.
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