Hoy newspaper reports that telecommunication companies will invest US$500 million dollars in the DR market this year. Orlando Jorge Mera, director of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), also said his statistics show there are 894,164 phone lines in the DR, for a 10.5% density. The number of telephone lines grew 8.2% in 2000 over 1999. Furthermore, he said in 2000 there were 705,431 mobile cell phone lines in operation, up 66% from 1999. He reported that his department is installing public phones in 13 rural provinces and is implementing a telemedicine program with the Ministry of Public Health. He also pointed out that the country is renegotiating its debt with the International Union of Telecommunications, a debt for US$4 million that dates back to 1962.
