Country code: 55. Full IDD services are available for the whole country and abroad. Rio’s airport provides 24-hour telecommunication services. Public telephones accept telephone cards (cartões telefônicos), most of which cost R$20. Some older telephones may require metal discs (fichas), which can be obtained from cash desks or newspaper kiosks. International calls from Brazil are expensive: to the UK, the rate is approximately US$3 per minute, to the USA and Canada, it is approximately US$2.50 per minute. 25 per cent cheaper calls can be made daily from 2000-0500.

US-style analogue and digital networks exist. Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies, but travellers should check with their service providers. Coverage and cost vary from state to state. It is possible to rent mobile phones, which can be collected at the airport or delivered to a hotel.

Hotels generally provide Internet access to guests. Internet cafes can be found in main towns and cities, and there are often Internet booths at airports. In smaller towns, public access is sometimes available at post offices.

Brazil's constitution guarantees a free press. There are thousands of radio stations and hundreds of TV channels in Brazil, South America's largest media market. Media ownership is highly concentrated and home-grown conglomerates such as Globo, Brazil's most successful broadcaster, dominate the market, operating TV and radio networks, newspapers and pay-TV. Brazilian dramas and soaps are exported around the world. Game shows and reality TV are hugely popular.
Press: In Rio de Janeiro, there is an English-language publication, the Rio Visitor, which gives tourist information. Brazil Post is a global news service providing information on the latest stories and current affairs in Brazil (website: www.brazilpost.com). Daily newspapers include O Dia, O Correio Braziliense and O Globo. International magazines and newspapers are also available throughout the country.
TV: Major commercial networks include Sistema Brasileiro de Televisao (SBT), TV Record and Rede Globo; NBR is operated by state-run Radiobras; TV Cultura is a public network offering cultural programming.
Radio: Radiobras operates Radio Nacional; Globo runs commercial station Radio Globo; Radio Cultura offers cultural programming.

Services are reasonably reliable. Sending mail registered or franked will eliminate the risk of having the stamps steamed off. Airmail service to Europe takes four to six days. Surface mail takes at least four weeks. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200.