There has been a communications revolution in India over the last few years. The rapid spread of the Internet and of mobile telephony, has made communicating to and from India much easier for tourists.
Telephones
India Country Code: 91
Public phone booths are available in tourist spots and markets all over India, and are convenient for making both local and international phone calls. Call charges are reduced at night and on Sundays. There were about 45 million fixed line telephones in India at the end of 2004. Phone booths are equipped with meters, so you can see the length and rate of your call and receive a printed receipt.
Making a call:
Landline to Landline in the same city: To call a fixed line phone from a fixed line phone in the same city, simply dial the number. Within a city, calls from one landline to another are charged as local calls.
Long Distance Calls: To call a fixed line phone in another city, from a fixed line phone, dial 0, then the area code (STD code) and then the phone number. (E.g. To call a number in Delhi, you need to dial 011-XXXX XXXX). Inter city calls are charged on the basis of the distance between the cities.
International Calls: To make an international call from a landline, dial 00, then the country code + area code + phone number (E.g. To call a number in the USA, you need to dial 00-1-XXXX XXXX).
Landline to Mobile phone: To call a mobile phone from a fixed line phone, simply dial the 10- digit number (Eg: 9XXXX-YYYYY). Within a city calls from a landline to a mobile phone are charged as local calls. The incoming call is free for the mobile phone user.
Landline to Mobile phone in another city: Calling a mobile phone in another city is considered a long distance call and requires the prefix (0-9XXXX-YYYYY).
Mobile telephones now outnumber fixed line phones in India. Each city usually has several service providers. Some service providers offer all-India roaming services. Tourists will find buying a prepaid card with a roaming facility, a convenient way to stay in touch while traveling in India. Both GSM and CDMA mobile phone services are available in India. There were about 50 million mobile phones in India at the end of 2004.
Mobile to Mobile in the same city: To call a mobile phone from a mobile phone in the same city, simply dial the number. Within a city, calls from one landline to another are charged as local calls.
Mobile phone to Landline: To call a fixed line phone from a mobile phone in the same city, add the area code and then dial the number. (Eg: to call a landline in Delhi from a mobile phone you need to dial 011-XXXX XXXX).
International Calls: To make an international call from a mobile phone, dial 00, then the country code + area code + phone number (E.g. To call a number in the USA, you need to dial 00-1-XXXX XXXX).
Internet Services
Cyber cafes are widely available in major cities and tourist locations in India. Some cyber cafés, hotels and airports are wi-fi enabled. Be prepared for power outages, which can hamper connectivity. Many cyber cafes also offer internet telephony services.
India Internet country code: .in
Post and Courier Services
Post Offices in India can be found in all cities, towns and tourist destinations. Letter boxes, are located along main roads and in markets. The postal service is convenient if you want to send postcards, letters or parcels. There are also many courier services that deliver goods across India and abroad.
Radio
The primary radio channels are run by the Indian Government's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and offer news broadcasts every hour, as well as public service programs on AM bands. Local Radio channels in each city operate on FM bands and focus more on entertainment. International short wave broadcasts such as BBC Radio, Voice of America etc are received across India. World Space broadcasts are also available in India, though World Space radio sets.
Television
Previously a monopoly of the government television is another communications medium that has grown exponentially in India. Doordarshan the government channel focuses on news and public service programming. English news channels include NDTV 24X7 and Headlines Today. International channels such as BBC World, CNN, HBO, ESPN, MTV and channels from the Star are network are available across India. Numerous Hindi and regional language channels are also available.
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