which represents 7.8 percent of the population. 9 The majority of Georgian Internet
users are under 30 years of age.
The languages most commonly used among Georgian Internet users are English (90
percent), Russian (8 percent), and Georgian (2 percent). It is estimated that 50 percent
of users access the Internet from their workplace, 40 percent from their homes, and
10 percent from other places (such as schools, universities, Internet cafe ´s, and mobile
networks). The monthly price of ADSL varies from USD 20 to USD 200 depending
largely on bandwidth. The local backbone connection varies from 3 to 20 Mbps. Internet service is usually available in urban areas, with around 80 percent of the services
provided in Tbilisi.
The Georgian market for Internet services consists of the following companies: Caucasus Online (covering 80 percent of the market), UGT (10–15 percent), and others
that make up a combined 5 percent share of the market (Geonet, Service Net, Egrisi,
Maximali [WiMAX provider], Magti, Geocell, and Beeline). Magti signed a contract
with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to connect 2,000 public schools
(including schools in rural and high-mountain areas) to the Internet by the end of
2011. This will contribute to the growth of country’s Internet audience, with approximately 700,000 new users. Georgian Research and Educational Networks Association
(GRENA) is a noncommercial ISP that provides Internet access to academic and educational institutions. The market is open for foreign ISPs. At the end of 2008, Caucasus
Online established a new fiber-optic channel, which goes from Tbilisi to Poti and
through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and Romania, and connects to Cogent. The new
channel gave Caucasus Online the ability to offer speeds up to 20 Mbps. Other ISPs
route their commercial traffic through Turkey via Turk Telecom, Sweden via Baku, and
Rostelecom via Novorosiisk.
All ministries and almost all government agencies have Web sites. The number of
blogs is rapidly rising in the country, mainly among young people. No blogs are supported by opposition parties.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
The Constitution of August 24, 1995, 10 enshrines freedom of expression and freedom
of information. The primary legislation that regulates the electronic communications
sector is the Law on Electronic Communications No. 1514 of June 6, 2005. 11
The law establishes the principles for development of a competitive environment
in the communications sector; specifies the rights and obligations of persons owning,
using, or providing services by means of electronic communications networks and
facilities; and defines the scope of competence of the national regulatory authority in
the sector—the Georgian National Communications Commission (herein referred to
as the Commission). The provisions of the law step up the process of liberalization
176
Georgia
users are under 30 years of age.
The languages most commonly used among Georgian Internet users are English (90
percent), Russian (8 percent), and Georgian (2 percent). It is estimated that 50 percent
of users access the Internet from their workplace, 40 percent from their homes, and
10 percent from other places (such as schools, universities, Internet cafe ´s, and mobile
networks). The monthly price of ADSL varies from USD 20 to USD 200 depending
largely on bandwidth. The local backbone connection varies from 3 to 20 Mbps. Internet service is usually available in urban areas, with around 80 percent of the services
provided in Tbilisi.
The Georgian market for Internet services consists of the following companies: Caucasus Online (covering 80 percent of the market), UGT (10–15 percent), and others
that make up a combined 5 percent share of the market (Geonet, Service Net, Egrisi,
Maximali [WiMAX provider], Magti, Geocell, and Beeline). Magti signed a contract
with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to connect 2,000 public schools
(including schools in rural and high-mountain areas) to the Internet by the end of
2011. This will contribute to the growth of country’s Internet audience, with approximately 700,000 new users. Georgian Research and Educational Networks Association
(GRENA) is a noncommercial ISP that provides Internet access to academic and educational institutions. The market is open for foreign ISPs. At the end of 2008, Caucasus
Online established a new fiber-optic channel, which goes from Tbilisi to Poti and
through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and Romania, and connects to Cogent. The new
channel gave Caucasus Online the ability to offer speeds up to 20 Mbps. Other ISPs
route their commercial traffic through Turkey via Turk Telecom, Sweden via Baku, and
Rostelecom via Novorosiisk.
All ministries and almost all government agencies have Web sites. The number of
blogs is rapidly rising in the country, mainly among young people. No blogs are supported by opposition parties.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
The Constitution of August 24, 1995, 10 enshrines freedom of expression and freedom
of information. The primary legislation that regulates the electronic communications
sector is the Law on Electronic Communications No. 1514 of June 6, 2005. 11
The law establishes the principles for development of a competitive environment
in the communications sector; specifies the rights and obligations of persons owning,
using, or providing services by means of electronic communications networks and
facilities; and defines the scope of competence of the national regulatory authority in
the sector—the Georgian National Communications Commission (herein referred to
as the Commission). The provisions of the law step up the process of liberalization
176
Georgia