Present state and future plans of telecommunications services inHungary

The paper reviews the current state and the development strategies of telecommunications in Hungary. Telephone systems are predominantly analog, with a relatively low main-line penetration ratio (14.5% by the end of 1993) and several years waiting time. Advanced telecommunications services are scarcely established. However, the significance of telecommunications has been recognized, therefore intensive development and modernization plans were formed, the legislative environment has been liberalized, the state-owned network operator has been partly privatized, and the full restructuring of the telecommunication sector is in process. Over the last several years, Hungary focused on the basic network infrastructure and fixed telephone service, but mobile telephony was also urgently required for the rapid satisfaction of business needs. The need to join Europe accelerates the pace of digitalization and the introduction of new telecommunication services, as well as the establishment of international cooperation to harmonize the expansion of international links. The paper summarizes the general features and development goals for this decade