Other newspapers such as the weekly El Faro de Gibraltar, are published in Spanish. Defunct newspapers include El Calpense, a Spanish-language newspaper that was published in Gibraltar between 1868 and 1982.
The company that laid the first part of the cable took the name of Falmouth, Gibraltar and Malta Telegraph Company and had been founded in 1869.
Regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting are the responsibility of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), established by means of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act in 2000. ==Telecommunications== ===History=== The first submarine telegraph cable started its operation in Gibraltar in 1870.
International circuits were provided by Cable & Wireless, present in Gibraltar since 1870 as the Falmouth, Malta, Gibraltar Telegraph Company.
This company later operated as the Eastern Telegraph Company from Mount Pleasant in Gibraltar and eventually became Cable & Wireless. The first telephones were introduced to Gibraltar in 1886 by a private company which was later taken over by the colonial authorities.
The first wireless message was transmitted to Gibraltar in 1903.
Since 1926, the telephone service was operated by the City Council.
On 4 April 1927, following an agreement signed between the Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España, the Spanish incumbent telecommunications operator, and the Gibraltar City Council, direct communications between Spain and Gibraltar were established. Upon the approval of the 1969 Constitution and the dissolution of the City Council, the telephone service was transferred to the newly formed Government of Gibraltar.
In the 1960s it became a weekly newspaper.
On 4 April 1927, following an agreement signed between the Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España, the Spanish incumbent telecommunications operator, and the Gibraltar City Council, direct communications between Spain and Gibraltar were established. Upon the approval of the 1969 Constitution and the dissolution of the City Council, the telephone service was transferred to the newly formed Government of Gibraltar.
When the border between Spain and Gibraltar was eventually closed by the Spanish dictator in 1969, the newspaper changed its ownership and begun to be published in English.
In the 1970s there were three generations of automatic telephone exchange equipment in use with four and five digit numbers.
Other newspapers such as the weekly El Faro de Gibraltar, are published in Spanish. Defunct newspapers include El Calpense, a Spanish-language newspaper that was published in Gibraltar between 1868 and 1982.
It later closed in 1982.
However, Cable & Wireless left Gibraltar in 1987.
On 1 January 1988, British Telecom (BT) and the Government of Gibraltar formed a joint venture company called Gibraltar Telecommunications International Ltd (known by its commercial brand Gibtel) to operate Gibraltar's international telecommunications services.
The volume of calls grew and a System X digital exchange was installed. Until 1990, all telephone services were operated by the Gibraltar Government Telephone Department.
Gibtel was subsequently granted a licence to offer mobile telephony introducing a GSM900 network. In 1990, the Government decided to privatise its Telephone Department and therefore entered into a joint venture with Nynex of the United States.
Special event stations are licensed by the GRA for example the Lighthouse Activity Weekend uses ZB2LGT. ==Internet== Country code (top-level domain): .gi Internet service providers (ISPs): 4 Gibnet Limited, a private company, began Internet services in January 1996, with a 64 kbit/s circuit to Spain.
In 1997, GNC, through its wholly owned subsidiary, GNC Networks, commenced Internet services.
Sapphire have their own redundant fibre and microwave infrastructure into and around Gibraltar. Sapphire uses the Gibtelecom ADSL concentrator to reach customers that are outside their own network, and sells high-bandwidth Internet services and Internet connectivity, competing directly with Gibtelecom. GNC Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gibraltar Nynex Communications, commenced services in 1997.
Shine Mobile will not be back. ==Broadcasting== ===Television=== Television stations: 1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (2002) Television licences: 7,452 (2002) Requirement abolished (2007). GBC Television is operated by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is transmitted on VHF Channel 12 with UHF repeaters on 56 and 53. Until 1999, GBC retransmitted BBC Prime, but was relaunched as a community-based service focusing on local news and other items of local interest.
Regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting are the responsibility of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), established by means of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act in 2000. ==Telecommunications== ===History=== The first submarine telegraph cable started its operation in Gibraltar in 1870.
The company is co-owned by the Government of Gibraltar and Slovenia Telecom. In 2000, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority issued Ladbrokes, who then operated Gibraltar's biggest call centre, with a licence to establish their own internet services.
ADSL services were introduced in 2002. In 2001, BT sold its 50% stake in Gibtel to GNC.
ADSL services were introduced in 2002. In 2001, BT sold its 50% stake in Gibtel to GNC.
The name Gibtelecom begun to be used in July 2002, and as of 1 October 2003 this name was formally adopted by the company (which up until then was still Gibraltar Nynex Communications).
GNC Networks was renamed Gibconnect and the parent company became Gibraltar Telecommunications International Limited, which is referred to as Gibtelecom, in 2002.
ADSL services were introduced in 2002, by 2005, there were several thousand users.
ABC ceased their Gibraltar operations in early 2002. CTS Gibraltar Limited launched a WiMax service in 2008, competing against the established ADSL providers.
The name Gibtelecom begun to be used in July 2002, and as of 1 October 2003 this name was formally adopted by the company (which up until then was still Gibraltar Nynex Communications).
Gibtelecom is also a partner in the EIG cable system, which will have a landing point in Gibraltar. Provision for Local Loop Unbundling was introduced in Gibraltar, under the 2006 Communications Act, 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 then House of Assembly in June 2006. Fixed line numbers are now eight digits, with Gibtelecom numbers being prefixed with 200.
In December 2005, GBC started internet streaming of its radio service, and in 2009 the daily Newswatch programme became available as video on demand.
In 2005 it merged with Broadband Gibraltar Limited to form Sapphire Networks Limited.
ADSL services were introduced in 2002, by 2005, there were several thousand users.
Gibtelecom is also a partner in the EIG cable system, which will have a landing point in Gibraltar. Provision for Local Loop Unbundling was introduced in Gibraltar, under the 2006 Communications Act, 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 then House of Assembly in June 2006. Fixed line numbers are now eight digits, with Gibtelecom numbers being prefixed with 200.
In June 2006, the licence was abolished by the Government.
Telephone jacks are also British Standard BS 6312, as opposed to the RJ11 versions found in other parts of Europe and the world. ===Numbering plan=== Calling code: +350 === Telecom dispute === Telecommunication services in Gibraltar were subject to Spanish restrictions until 10 February 2007.
Subsequent to the resolution of the dispute, the Gibraltar telephone numbering plan has been increased to eight digits for land lines, adding a prefix of 200 to the existing Gibtelecom five digit numbers which is required to be dialled from October 2008. Gibtelecom was also prevented from having roaming agreements with Spanish GSM networks so its mobile phones did not operate in Spain.
ABC ceased their Gibraltar operations in early 2002. CTS Gibraltar Limited launched a WiMax service in 2008, competing against the established ADSL providers.
In December 2005, GBC started internet streaming of its radio service, and in 2009 the daily Newswatch programme became available as video on demand.
A new general manager was appointed in 2010 with a mandate to develop the station to meet future requirements of the community. The majority of homes also have access to satellite television with mostly United Kingdom channels.
A second operator, CTS Gibraltar Limited, provided fixed line services beginning with the prefix 216, but closed down in early 2013. ==Mobile network== GSM Network Identifiers : GIBTEL Gibraltar Telecommunications International Limited (Gibtel) (now Gibtelecom) introduced mobile phones in Gibraltar using a GSM900 network.
The new GPRS 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. Gibtelecom operates 3G & 4G networks. CTS ceased providing 3G services in early 2013. A new provider, Shine Mobile, launched on 23 September 2013.
CTS was closed down in early 2013 due to significant debts owed to government authorities and other creditors. Shine Mobile, launched in September 2013, has obtained a licence for broadband services, which it planned to introduce, but the company closed down. In 2013, GibFibreSpeed Ltd, trading under A.J.
On 12 May 2016 the Company posted a notice on its website [www.shinemobile.gi] saying that "As from 18/05/2016, our services are going to be SUSPENDED; therefore your Shine line will NOT be operational." It was said that was to facilitate working on upgrading infrastructure, but as of 29 May 2016 the service is still down.
BFBS1 and 2 are also available on the Internet streamed from the UK. On 1 October 2018, Rock Radio – Gibraltar's Hit Music Station was launched.
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