Communications (Niger)
======================


     Highways:
         39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470
         km earthen, 23,000 km tracks
     Inland waterways:
         Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier
         from mid-December through March
     Civil air:
         2 major transport aircraft
     Airports:
         29 total, 27 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
         over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
     Telecommunications:
         small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links
         concentrated in southwestern area; 14,260 telephones; broadcast stations -
         15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
         Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned