Communications in Gibraltar

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Communications in Gibraltar.

1 Telecommunications
2 Broadcasting
3 Amateur Radio
4 Internet
5 External links

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 were subject to Spanish restrictions until February 10, 2007. Spain refused 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 restricted the expansion of Gibraltar's telephone numbering plan. Since the recognition of the 350 code, 9567 access from Spain has been discontinued. Similarly, subscribers in Gibraltar calling Spain must now use the international access code and country code (0034) for all calls - previously the international prefix was only required for calls to mobiles.

Gibtelecom was also prevented from having roaming agreements with Spanish GSM networks so its mobile phones did not operate in Spain. Gibtelecom had roaming arrangements with local GSM networks in most other countries.

Mobile phone technology is constantly advancing and Gibtelecom has kept pace with developments including the advent of data access via mobile phones. The company’s GBP 1.5 million deal with Ericsson was heralded as “opening up a new era for mobile telephony in Gibraltar”, and indeed. the new GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network installed by the Scandinavian company allows faster and permanent connectivity for all mobile users…as well as providing high-speed picture and video messaging for owners of the new range of multi-purpose hand-sets. [1]

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 RJ11 versions found in other parts of Europe and the world.

It is a popular myth among travel writers that Gibraltar still has traditional red British-style telephone boxes; very few original ones are to be found in use, although recently some new ones have been imported.

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

Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,000 (2006 [2])

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)

The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) 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.

GBC is funded by a mix of advertising, government funding, and an annual television licence fee, although the Government announced in June 2006 that this was to be abolished.

Most homes also 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)

Amateur Radio started in Gibraltar shortly after the Second World War. The Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society (GARS) is a small but active society representing the interests of Amateur Radio both locally and internationally as a full IARU member society.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2

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, and 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.

GibNet, a private company, began internet services in 1995, and in 2005 it merged with Broadband Gibraltar Limited to form Sapphire Networks. Sapphire laid their own fibre ring around Gibraltar and established their own independent international infrastructure completely separate from the incumbent to offer local companies an alternative telecommunications service.

In March 2007 Sapphire made history by establishing its own fibre optic infrastructure into Gibraltar and interconnecting to a second Carrier in Spain. Sapphire are now the only local carrier providing two completely diverse international fibre routes into Gibraltar via two independent carriers.

Sapphire are rolling out their own local network, but this will take time. Sapphire resells Gibtelecom's local ADSL infrastructure to reach customers that are outside Sapphire's own network.

Sapphire also sells high Internet bandwidth services and international Leased Lines, competing directly with the incumbent.

Provision for Local Loop Unbundling was introduced in Gibraltar, under the 2006 Communications Ordinance, similar to the UK's 2003 Communications Act. Earlier 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, but these were closed after the relevant legislation was passed into law by the House of Assembly in June 2006[3]

Country code (Top-level domain): GI

Calling code: 350

GSM Network Identifier : GIBTEL