Marked progress has been made in the modernization of communications service.

Scientists and technicians in the field of communications developed major equipment and devices of over 20 kinds including modulation and amplification devices, transmission equipment and data communication facilities needed for large-capacity telephone exchange equipment and digital TV relay by making effective use of local technology and materials.

They widely expanded the switching capacity by developing a modern digital automatic switchboard. An efficient terminal data transmission and reception device was also developed to build up the line communication capacity over the whole country. Hundreds of pieces of equipment and devices including transducers, connection devices and switchboards were made by local technology and equipment for increasing the capacity of line communication between the national and regional communications centres. In particular, they developed a new communications processing program to be loaded in switchboards so as to ensure promptness and proper operation of national industrial communications and increase the number of users.

Tangible achievements have been made in the national digital TV relay programme. This year alone saw the upgrading or installation of equipment for digital TV relay in dozens of places and the production of modern relays.

Lots of products have been manufactured with local materials, equipment and technology to modernize the communications service. The Pyongyang Optical Fibre Communication Cable Factory developed an efficient nonmetallic optical fibre communication cable to suit the regional features of the country and is now increasing its production. This cable is a very suitable communication line for the sections and communications centres without lightning conductors. When the previous optical fibre communication cables with metallic strings inside were used, they were often struck by lightning, causing damages to communications facilities. Technicians developed a new type of optical fibre communication cable by introducing a technology for improving such physical properties of communication lines as tensile and bending strength without putting metal string inside the cable in order to ensure the safety of communications equipment from disastrous damage that occur without prior notice. The factory has now established a serial production process of nonmetallic optical fibre cables of various sizes.

The Pyongyang Communications Machine Factory developed a multifunctional “Ansan” telephone. With far improved technical data compared to the previous products, the telephone is much favoured by many users as it has various functions helpful not only to telephone call but also to everyday life.

Factories, enterprises and scientific research units in the posts and telecommunications sector also made various other modern communications equipment badly needed in various sectors of the national economy and in the fields of science, education and environmental protection, including digital wireless broadcasting equipment and reception device, LAN digital data transmission device, microwave relay system and transceiver.

A great deal of energies are now being directed to upgrading mobile communications in the field of posts and telecommunications while the material and technical foundations are being consolidated for data communication, broadcasting and the production of communications facilities.

“At present almost all equipment and devices needed for communications are made by our own efforts and technology. Underlying these achievements are the spirit of self-reliance and self-development and science and technology,” said Paek Song Dok, department director of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.