1.6228
(1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 44 million

Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most
technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of
intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly
backward system of the eastern part of the country has been
modernized and integrated with that of the western part
domestic: the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an
extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by
modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio
relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service
is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign
countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system
of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys all of the
advantages of the national system
international: satellite earth stations--14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean
region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean
region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone
communication centers; tropospheric scatter links

Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 1,621, shortwave 37, digital
audio broadcasting 130

Radios: 47.1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 9,513 (including repeaters)

Televisions: 51.4 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 46,300 km including 18,866 km electrified and 14,768 km
double- or multiple-tracked (1996)
note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer
publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG
system there are 102 privately owned railway companies which own an
approximate 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks

Highways:
total: 656,074 km
paved: 650,169 km (including 11,309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,905 km all-weather (1997 est.)

Waterways: 7,467 km (1997); major rivers include the Rhine and
Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connectio