Telecommunications in Hungary

Two decades before the introduction of radio broadcasting, residents of Budapest could listen to news, cabaret, music and opera at home and in public spaces daily.

[10] Telephone system: modernized and capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service; digitized and highly automated system; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1996; competition among mobile-network service providers has led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile phones since 2000 and a decrease in the number of fixed-line connections; fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest (2011).

[citation needed] The main broadband Internet providers are: Magyar Telekom (formerly T-Com/T-Online/Matáv), Vodafone (UPC), Invitel, Externet, Emitel, Monortel, Pantel, TVnet, TvNetWork, VIVAnet, and Digi.

[17] The mobile broadband providers include:[citation needed] Yettel: Magyar Telekom: Vodafone: DIGI Mobile Hungary: There is no OpenNet Initiative (ONI) country profile, but Hungary is shown as no evidence of filtering in all areas (political, social, conflict/security, and Internet tools) on the ONI global Internet filtering maps.

[24] The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice.

The government and the National Media and Infocommunication Authority (NMHH) argued that, in practice, blogs would be exempt from these requirements on the basis that they are not considered "business endeavors.

"[26] One-time socialist party member and critic of the tax, Balázs Gulyás who inspired the week of growing protests from Facebook said, "This is limiting free access to the Internet and information...It is an attempt to create a digital iron curtain around Hungary.

"[27] Government representative Zoltán Kovács denied the tax was meant to curtail debate not controlled by the ruling Fidesz party[27]