For background on connectivity and access issues as of several years ago, see Hagos (2002).

For background on connectivity and access issues assee Hagos (2002).

Hagos, Asgede. 2002. "Eritrea: Wiring Africa's Newest Nation." In M.B. Robins and R.L. Hillard, eds., Beyond Boundaries: Cyberspace in Africa. Portsmouth, NH, US: Heinemann. Pp. 59-76.

[Verify if Latin alphabet uses extended characters.]

Language policy / Politique de langue

ICT policy / Politique de TIC

Localisation policy / Politique de localisation

• GSM companies & coverage : http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_er.shtml

• Project telecentres / Télécentres de projets:

Localisation policy / Politique de localisation

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 2 (2000) (CIA & Wikipedia)

• ISPs / FSI : 4 (2005) - EriTel, CTS, TFanus, Ewan (Wikipedia)

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), "The World Factbook: Eritrea" https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/er.html

Wikipedia, "Communications in Eritrea," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Eritrea

______, "Languages of Eritrea," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Eritrea

WikiEducator has a page on ICTs and education, including table on enabling and constraining factors, at http://www.wikieducator.org/ICT4Africa/Country_Report_Eritrea

Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), "Distribution of Top-Level Domain Names by Host Country, Jan 2007" http://www.isc.org/index.pl?/ops/ds/reports/2007-02/dist-bynum.php

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), "The World Factbook: Eritrea" https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/er.html

WikiEducator, "ICT4Africa/Country Report Eritrea," http://www.wikieducator.org/ICT4Africa/Country_Report_Eritrea

This is the localisation, language &
ICT profile for Eritrea. For the
ER-L10n wikigroup, click on the flag.

Eritrea - Erythrée - ኤርትራ (ER) http://www.PanAfriL10n.org/wikidoc/flags/ERI.GIF

• L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde says there is no official language. However, Tigrinya, English and Arabic are de facto working languages of government
• Dutcher (2004) says "English is the national (official) language. Tigrigna and Arabic are used in many official situations and documents.

Tigrinya is spoken by a little over half of the population. Tigre and other languages by the rest.

• Tigrigna: 50%
• Tigre: 22%
• Afar: 7%
• Arabic: 6%

• Bedawi (Hedareb, Beja): 3%
• Bilen: 2%

According to Dutcher (2004) communities choose language of primary schooling and prefer Tigrinya, Arabic or the local language. English is the medium of instruction from grade 6 on.

UNDP (2006) gives a literacy figure (without reference to which language[s]) of: 57%

• Fixed lines:
  • Telephone mainlines: 8 per 1000 people (APC)
  • Telephones - main lines in use: 37,700 (2005) (CIA)
• Mobile subscriptions:
  • Telephones - mobile cellular: 58,000 (2006) (CIA)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000) (CIA)

• ISPs / FSI :
• Internet hosts on .er domain: 1304 (ISC)

Pages on the NICI (National Information and Communication Infrastructure) site on Eritrea:

• NICI Policy http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/Eritrea/eripol.htm
• NICI country profile/background (not recently updated; has links to other NICI pages) http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/Eritrea/eriab.htm

< Equatorial Guinea | Countries | Ethiopia >

This is the localisation, language & ICT profile for Eritrea.
For the ER-L10n wikigroup, click on the flag.

(:toc:)

Language information / Données sur les langues

Languages spoken / Langues parlées

a) Official / Officielle(s) :

b) National, indigenous / Nationale(s), indigène(s) :

c) Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales :

Policy / Politique

a) Laws/legislation / Lois/législation :

b) Agencies / Agences :

c) Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

UNDP (2006) gives a literacy figure (without reference to which language[s]) of: 57%

Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes

a) Orthographies / Orthographes :

b) Print publications / Editions imprimées :

Other comments / Autre commentaire

ICT situation / Situation des TIC

Infrastructure / Infrastructure

a) Telephones / Téléphones :

• Fixed lines: Telephone mainlines: 8 per 1000 people (APC)
• Mobile subscriptions: (none?)

b) Radio stations / Stations de radio :

c) Connectivity / Connectivité :

• International internet bandwidth / Bande passante internationale d'internet :
• ISPs / FSI :
• Geographic coverage / Couverture géographique :

Computer & internet access / Accès aux ordinateurs et à l'internet

a) Computers & points of access / Ordinateurs et lieux d'accès :

• Number of computers / Nombre d'ordinateurs: 1.8 per 1000 people (APC)
• Cybercafés / Cybercafés:
• Project telecentres / Télécentres de projets:

b) Internet / Internet :

c) Other / Autre :

• Digital Opportunity Index (DOI): 0.03 (ITU 2006)

Policy / Politique

The APC page, "ICT Policy in Eritrea," has some information and links:

• In English: http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21842e_1
• En français: http://afrique.droits.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21842e_1

ICT4D/E & ICT training / TIC pour le développement/éducation, et formation en TIC

Resources / Ressources

Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

Country web content / Contenu web du pays

Web content in indigenous languages / Contenu web en langues indigènes

Software localisation / Localisation de logiciel

Projects & organisations / Projets et organisations

A localisation initiative for Linux in Tigrinya called "Tinux" was begun at the University of Asmara. Current status uncertain. See http://tinux.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Tinux:About

References / Références

APC, "ICT Policy in Eritrea," Africa ICT Policy Monitor, http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21842e_1 ("Politiques de TIC en/au Erythrée," Observatoire des politiques des TIC en Afrique, http://afrique.droits.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21842e_1 )

International Telecommunications Union (ITU). 2006. World Information Society Report 2006. Geneva: ITU. http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/publications/worldinformationsociety/2006/wisr-web.pdf

UNDP. 2006. ''Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis. Human Development Report 2006.'' New York: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). [Human development index Adult literacy rate (% ages 15 and older) (HDI) http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/3.html ]

Eritrea - Erythrée - ኤርትራ (ER) http://www.PanAfriL10n.org/wikidoc/flags/ERI.GIF

This is the localisation, language & ICT profile for Zimbabwe. For the ER-L10n wikigroup, click on the flag.

Three languages have official roles, though sources differ on details:

• L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde says there is no official language. However, Tigrinya, English and Arabic are de facto working languages of government
• Dutcher (2004) says "English is the national (official) language. Tigrigna and Arabic are used in many official situations and documents.

Linguistic Groups as Percentage of Population (Dutcher 2004):

• Tigrigna: 50%
• Tigre: 22%
• Afar: 7%
• Arabic: 6%
• Saho: 4%
• Kunama: 4%
• Bedawi (Hedareb, Beja): 3%
• Bilen: 2%
• Nara: 2%

According to Dutcher (2004) communities choose language of primary schooling and prefer Tigrinya, Arabic or the local language. English is the medium of instruction from grade 6 on.

Dutcher, Nadine. 2004. Expanding Educational Opportunity in Linguistically Diverse Societies, 2nd. ed. Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics. http://www.cal.org/resources/pubs/expand.html

A map showing approximate areas where Eritrean languages are spoken:
http://www.PanAfriL10n.org/wikidoc/maps/eritrea-languages.gif.jpg
(Source: Homepage of Mebrat Tzehaie)

Tigrinya, Arabic, Bedawi

Homepage of Mebrat Tzehaie, "Languages in Eritrea," http://home.planet.nl/~hans.mebrat/eritrea-languages.htm

Wikipedia, "Languages of Eritrea," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Eritrea

Eritrea - Erythrée - ኤርትራ

Eritrea - Erythrée -

Efforts to promote use of Unicode fonts began around 2000.

A localisation initiative for Linux in Tigrinya called "Tinux" was begun at the University of Asmara. Current status uncertain. See http://tinux.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Tinux:About

• Fixed lines:
• Mobile subscriptions:

• International internet bandwidth / Bande passante internationale d'internet :
• ISPs / FSI :
• Geographic coverage / Couverture géographique :

• Dial-up subscribers / Abonnés par ligne téléphonique :
• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet : 50,000 Internet users as of Sept/05, 1.2% of the population, per ITU (Internet World Stats)

Internet World Stats: Africa. 2006. http://internetworldstats.com/africa.htm

(See also specific language pages.)

(See also specific language pages.)

Balancing Act Africa. 2005. African Internet Country Profiles, Part 2, East Africa. London: Balancing Act.

"Les locuteurs des langues érythréennes composent avec trois systèmes d'écriture: l'alphabet guèze pour le tigrina, le tigré et le bilen, l'alphabet arabe pour l'arabe et l'alphabet latin pour les autres langues (afar, saho, kunama, bedawi et nara)." (L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde)

1. Language information / Données sur les langues

1.a. Languages spoken / Langues parlées

1.a.1. Official / Officielle(s) :

1.a.2. National, indigenous / Nationale(s), indigène(s) :

Ethnologue lists 12 living languages at http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=ER

1.a.3. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales :

1.b. Policy / Politique

1.b.1. Laws/legislation / Lois/législation :

1.b.2. Agencies / Agences :

1.b.3. Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

1.c. Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes

1.c.1. Orthographies / Orthographes :

"Les locuteurs des langues érythréennes composent avec trois systèmes d'écriture: l'alphabet guèze pour le tigrina, le tigré et le bilen, l'alphabet arabe pour l'arabe et l'alphabet latin pour les autres langues (afar, saho, kunama, bedawi et nara)." (L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde)

1.c.2. Print publications / Editions imprimées :

1.d. Other comments / Autre commentaire

2. ICT situation / Situation des TIC

2.a. Infrastructure / Infrastructure

2.a.1. Telephones / Téléphones :

• Fixed lines: 40,000 (2004) (Balancing Act)
• Mobile subscriptions: 10,000 (2004) (Balancing Act)

2.a.2. Radio stations / Stations de radio :

2.a.3. Connectivity / Connectivité :

• International internet bandwidth / Bande passante internationale d'internet : 2 Mbps (2002) (Balancing Act)
• ISPs / FSI : 5 (2002) (Balancing Act)
• Geographic coverage / Couverture géographique : "Access in Massawa, Menafera, Karen and Decamerah" (Balancing Act)

2.b Computer & internet access / Accès aux ordinateurs et à l'internet

2.b.1. Internet / Internet :

• Dial-up subscribers / Abonnés par ligne téléphonique : 3000 (2003) (Balancing Act)
• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet : 10,000 (2003) (Balancing Act)

2.b.2. Cybercentres / Cybercentres :

"40 cybercafés mainly in Asmara" (Balancing Act)

2.b.3. Project telecentres / Télécentres des projets :

2.c. Policy / Politique

Balancing Act cites a lack of ICT or telecommunications policy and strategy.

2.d. ICT4D & ICT training / TIC pour le développement et formation en TIC

3. Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

3.a. Country web content / Contenu web du pays

3.b. Web content in indigenous languages / Contenu web en langues indigènes

3.c. Software localisation / Localisation de logiciel

Not aware of any. However efforts to promote use of Unicode fonts began around 2000.

4. References / Références

1. Language information / Données sur les langues

a. Languages spoken / Langues parlées :

i. Official / Officielle(s) :

ii. National (indigenous, often with legislated status other than official)-] / [-Nationale(s) (indigène ; souvent avec un statut légale autre qu' "officielle") :

iii. Other indigenous / Autres indigènes :

iv. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales :

Tigrinya, Arabic

b. Policy / Politique :

i. Laws/legislation / Lois/législation :

ii. Agencies / Agences :

iii. Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

c. Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes :

i. Orthographies / Orthographes :

ii. Print publications / Editions imprimées :

d. Other comments / Autre commentaire :

2. ICT situation / Situation des TIC

3. Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

4. References / Références

Ge'ez (guèze in French) is sometimes also called Ethiopic in Ethiopia.

"Les locuteurs des langues érythréennes composent avec trois systèmes d'écriture: l'alphabet guèze pour le tigrina, le tigré et le bilen, l'alphabet arabe pour l'arabe et l'alphabet latin pour les autres langues (afar, saho, kunama, bedawi et nara)." (L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde)

Ge'ez (guèze in French) is the name used in Eritrea for what is called Ethiopic in Ethiopia.

[Verify if Latin alphabet uses extended characters.]

4. References

Leclerc, Jacques. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde, "Érythrée," http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/erythree.htm

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Languages of Eritrea," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=ER

None. However, Tigrinya, English and Arabic are de facto working languages of government (L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde).

Tigrinya is spoken by a little over half of the population. Tigre and other languages by the rest.

iii. Languages in education/literacy:

c. Writing in national/indigenous languages:

i. Orthographies:

ii. Print publications:

d. Other comments:

4. References

(none)

Tigrinya, English and Arabic are de facto working languages of government (L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde). Tigrinya is spoken by a little over half of the population. Tigre and other languages by the rest.

Ethnologue has a list at http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=ER

The site L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde has a page on Eritrea at http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/erythree.htm

1. Language information

a. Languages spoken:

i. Official:

ii. National (indigenous, often with legislated status other than official):

iii. Other indigenous:

Ethnologue has an extensive list at http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=TD

iv. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report:

b. Policy:

i. Laws/legislation:

The site L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde has a page on * at http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/tchad.htm

ii. Agencies:

c. Other comments:

2. ICT situation

3. Localisation situation

4. References: