Country code: 593.

Roaming agreements exist with one international mobile phone company, since a GSM 850 network was set up in 2003. Coverage is variable.

Limited access.

Under the Ecuadorian Constitution, journalists are given freedom of speech; however, there is some censorship, especially regarding political and military matters. Defamation in Ecuador is punishable by prison sentences of up to three years. By law, the Government is given free air-time on radio and TV.
Press: Dailies are in Spanish and include El Comercio (website: www.elcomercio.com); El Tiempo (website: www.eltiempo.com.ec); La Hora, a daily with regional editions (website: www.lahora.com.ec); Hoy (website: www.hoy.net), published in Quito; and El Telégrafo (website: www.telegrafo.com.ec) and El Universo (website: www.eluniverso.com), published in Guayaquil. There are two English-language newspapers, Inside Ecuador and Q, though both are published irregularly. International newspapers and magazines are available at international airports, main post offices and in some bookshops.
TV: TC Television is the national, commercial station. Other stations include Ecuavisa and Teleamazonas.
Radio: Cadena Radial Ecuatoriana (CRE) is a Guayaquil-based commercial network and Radio Nacional del Ecuador is Government-owned. Radio Centro is privately owned.

Airmail to western Europe and the USA takes up to one week, but incoming deliveries are less certain.