Bhutan Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 975. Domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use. International telephone service is by landline through India.

Some roaming agreements exist. Coverage is limited to main cities.

Access is limited but slowly growing. There are Internet cafes in Thimphu.

Mail from Bhutan is liable to disruption because of the high value of Bhutanese stamps; they are often steamed off the envelopes en route.

Fears of outside influences undermining the country’s absolute monarchy, freedom and culture meant that for years Bhutan had a deliberate policy of isolation, including a ban on television. The state-run Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) launched the first TV service as part of celebrations surrounding King Jigme Singye Wangchuk's silver jubilee in 1999. Radio broadcasting began in 1973 and the first Internet service was introduced in 1999. Media freedom is restricted by the government. There are no private broadcasters, but cable television is thriving with rival operators offering a number of channels at relatively inexpensive prices.

Kuensel is the autonomous weekly; The Bhutan Times is a private weekly.

• Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is state owned.
• Commercial channels are Cable Sat Club and Tshela Cable.

• Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is the state-run radio station.