Economy, Communications

The government controls domestic telegraph services and operates the Finnish Broadcasting Company, which broadcasts most of the radio and television programs of Finland. A privately owned television station offers about 20 hours a week of commercial programs. Approximately one-third of the telephone service is state-owned. In 2000 there were 550 telephone mainlines for every 1,000 people in Finland. The country had 1,498 radio receivers and 622 television sets per 1,000 residents in 1997. Daily newspapers number 56, and numerous periodicals are published.