Telecommunications in Lesotho

Telecommunications in Lesotho include radio, television, print and online newspapers, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Radio
See also: List of radio stations in Lesotho
  • Radio stations: 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008).[1]
  • Radio stations in Lesotho:
    • Radio Lesotho 1050AM.
    • Ultimate 950AM.
    • Radio Lesotho 93.3FM, Maseru only.
    • People's Choice (PCFM) 95.6FM, Maseru only.
    • Radio France International (RFI) 95.4FM, Maseru only.
    • Thaha-Khube 97.1FM, Maseru only.
    • Harvest 98.8FM, Maseru only.
    • Moafrica 99.3FM, Maseru only.
    • Ultimate 99.8FM, Maseru only.
    • Kereke Evangel, 102FM.
    • Catholic radio 103.3FM.
    • Jeso KE Karabo 105.2FM, Maseru only.
    • Joy 106.9FM, Maseru only.
    • Soul Radio Internet based Radio

Television
  • Television stations: 1 state-owned TV station; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008).[1]
  • TV stations in Lesotho:

Newspapers

Telephones
See also: Telephone numbers in Lesotho
  • Calling code +266[1]
  • International call prefix: 00[6]
  • Main lines: 43,100 lines in use, 168th in the world (2012).[1]
  • Mobile cellular: 1.3 million lines, 153rd in the world (2012).[1]
  • Telephone system: Rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho was tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service dominates the market and is expanding with a subscribership of roughly 65 per 100 persons in 2011; rural services are scant (2011).[1]
  • Satellite earth station: 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011).[1]

Telecommunications providers

Vodacom Lesotho started operating in 1996 with the Government of Lesotho as a shareholder through its stake in Lesotho Telecommunications Corporation. When the Government of Lesotho began its privatisation process in 1999, it invited bids for this share in Vodacom Lesotho. In July 2000, Sekha-Metsi Consortium, a group of local business people and public figures, was announced as the successful bidder. Sekha-Metsi now holds a 12% share in Vodacom Lesotho with the remaining share held by Vodacom Group. In 2008 Vodacom Lesotho introduced its new partnership with Vodafone.[7]

Econet Telecom Lesotho is part of the Econet Wireless group and operates as a stand-alone entity with full local board and management control. It is the first African mobile service operator to use ForgetMeNot Africa's eTXT service to enable their customer base to send and receive email via any mobile capable of a simple SMS.[8][9]

Internet

Internet censorship and surveillance

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without judicial oversight. The Internet is not widely available and almost nonexistent in rural areas due to the lack of communications infrastructure and high cost of access.[17]

The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech, so long as they do not interfere with "defense, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health". The government generally respects this right. An independent press, effective judiciary, and functioning democratic political system combine generally to promote freedom of the press; however, harassment of journalists and self-censorship persist. The law prohibits expressions of hatred or contempt for any person because of the person’s race, ethnic affiliation, gender, disability, or color.[17]

See also

References
  •  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document: "2014 edition".
  •  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State.
  1. "Communications: Lesotho", World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  2. "Lesotho Newspapers". www.world-newspapers.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  3. "Top 2 Lesotho Newspapers, Lesotho Press and News Media". www.allyoucanread.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  4. "Lesotho Newspapers". www.world-newspapers.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  5. "The Post | Telling it Like it is". www.thepost.co.ls. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  6. Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010)), Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  7. "Vodafone to Take Controlling 65% Stake in Vodacom". ihsmarkit.com. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  8. "Econet Telecom launches ForgetMeNot’s email-by-SMS service for Lesotho", Ewan MacLeod, Mobile Industry Review, 2 October 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  9. "Econet Telecom and ForgetMeNot Africa bring mobile email to Lesotho", James Barton, Developing Telecoms, 23 October 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  10. Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012" Archived 2017-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013
  11. "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012", International Telecommunications Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013
  12. "ITU | 2017 Global ICT Development Index". www.itu.int. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  13. "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  14. "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  15. Select Formats Archived 2009-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.
  16. Population, The World Factbook, United States Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.
  17. "Lesotho", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 21 March 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
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