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Mongolian communications has improved significantly in the
past decade. Making calls to, from and within Mongolia is generally easy.
The telecommunications network consists of both analogue (primary) and
digital communication equipment that connects most of the country. The
Mongolian Telecommunications Company (MTC) runs the largest communications
system in Mongolia. In addition, several private telecommunications companies
now operate international and domestic services. There is also a fiber
optic cable link owned and operated by the Mongolian Railway Administration.
This cable parallels the north-south train track and allows Mongolia to
link with telecommunications networks in both China and Russia.
Cellular service has taken Mongolia by storm; currently
hand phone users outnumber land-based users almost 2 to 1. Cell phones
are readily available and offer a reliable alternative to land lines.
However, cellular service is limited to the major cities. Mongolia currently
has two cellular service providers: MobiCom and Skytel. MobiCom, a Japanese-Mongolian
joint venture, controls approximately 60% of the domestic market. Skytel,
a Mongolian-Korean venture, controls the rest of the market. Both firms
provide a full range of services, including text messaging, Internet linkages,
and voice mail. Both have ambitious plans to expand services into the
provinces. In the major cities, there are Internet service providers that
offer inexpensive and reliable connections. In addition, there are numerous
Internet cafés that provide service for a nominal fee.
The International Network
In 1993, two projects vastly improved Mongolia's international
telecommunications capacity.
France's Alcatel installed electronic switching equipment in Ulaanbaatar,
and KDD of Japan installed an Intelsat Standard earth station. This station
greatly increased the international circuits available for telecommunication
services. These services were further enhanced when
Mongolia began use of satellite services provided by Lockheed-Martin in
fall 2002. Mongolia uses Asiasat-1 satellite service, and is starting
to use the American Intelsat Communication to provide telephone, telex
and airline reservation circuits to over 100 countries. In addition to
these services, limited numbers of low quality telephone and telex circuits
are available over microwave and symmetrical pair cable to Moscow and
Beijing.
International Telephone Service
976 for the Mongolian country code; 11 for the Ulaanbaatar
city code; and the local
number (usually 6 digits), i.e., 976-11-XXXXXX.
Fax Services
Most ministries, major companies, Internet cafés and major hotels have
faxes. A few companies and international agencies use private Inmarsat
satellite systems to provide direct telephone and fax services. The cost
for use of these systems averages about $4 per minute, and they are not
generally available to the public.
Package Services
DHL
DHL Worldwide Express is one of the international package service companies
currently operating in Mongolia. The Mongolian service operates through
DHL's service to China and DHL's Moscow and Eastern European services.
DHL is located in the DHL Building near the Lion Bridge.
Tel: (976-11) 310-919
Fax: (976-11) 325-772
E-mail: DHLULN@magicnet.mn
Web Site: www.DHL.com
Federal Express
"Tuushin" Co. Ltd., an international freight forwarder in Ulaanbaatar,
officially represents Federal Express. The office is located on Prime
Minister Amar's Street, Tuushin Building, Suit
405.
Tel: (976-11) 320-591
Fax: (976-11) 3-2-800; 325-510
E-mail: airfreight@tuushing.mn;
tuushin@magicnet.mn
UPS
United Parcel Service (UPS) offers express parcel service to and from
Mongolia. The Selenge
Group Co. Ltd. is the UPS representative. UPS is located in the Cultural
Palace Office Tower 1st
Floor Lobby.
Tel: (976-11) 320-101
Fax: (976-11) 311-447
Mongol Central Post Office
The Mongolia Central Post Office has an EMS (Express Mail Service), which
delivers packages to most countries.
Internet Services
Mongolia has five principal Internet service providers. They are constantly
upgrading their service to speed up connections. Ulaanbaatar and some
other cities in Mongolia have well equipped Internet Cafés. The five Internet
providers in Mongolia can be contacted for an online information package:
Bodicom
Tel: (976-11) 312-725
Fax: (976-11) 312-307
E-mail: info@mongolnet.mn
Web Site: www.mongolnet.mn
Magicnet
Tel: (976-11) 312-061
Fax: (976-11) 320-210, 315-668
E-mail: info@magicnet.mn
Web Site: www.magicnet.mn
MCS Com
Tel: (976-11) 323-705, 312-625Fax: (976-11) 311-323
E-mail: electronics@mcs.mn
Web Site: www.electronics.mcs.mn
Micom
Tel: (976-11) 323-224, 313-229
Fax: (976-11) 322-473
E-mail: info@micom.mng.net
Web Site: www.micom.mng.net
Mobinet
Tel: (976-11) 326-401
Fax: (976-11) 326-827
E-mail: service@mobinet.mn
Web Site: www.mobinet.mn
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