Telephone system: service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 560,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2

Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)

Defense ———-

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and
militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,087,264 males fit for military service: 586,664 males reach military age (18) annually: 53,250 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)

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