Telephone
Country code: 91
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile
phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns but
is increasing all the time.
Internet
E-mail can be accessed from an increasing number of
hotels and from Internet cafes across the country, many
now with Wi-Fi.
Post
Airmail service to Western Europe takes up to two weeks.
Post office hours: Regional variations, but generally
Mon-Sat 1000-1300 and 1330-1630 in bigger towns and
cities.
Media
The state's TV monopoly was broken in 1992, resulting in
a boom of private channels. News and entertainment shows
are especially popular, with news programmes often
attracting the larger audiences. A number of 24-hour
news channels operate in India. Public TV is run by
Doordarshan, while STAR Plus, owned by News Corporation,
is one of the most popular private channels. Private
radio stations were sanctioned in 2000, but only public
All India Radio is allowed to broadcast news. Newspaper
circulation has risen, thanks to a growing middle class,
as has the number of Internet users.
Press
- There are numerous local dailies published in
several languages.
- Many newspapers are in English; the most
important include The Economic Times, The Hindu,
Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Navbharat Times,
Punjab Kesari, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, Pioneer
and The Times of India.
TV
- Doordarshan Television operates 21 national,
regional and local services throughout India.
- Zee TV and Star TV are satellite and cable TV
services.
- Aaj Tak is a 24-hour news channel, New Delhi TV
(NDTV) operates NDTV-India and NDTV 24x7 news
channels.
- Sun Network is a commercial broadcaster.
Radio
Stations include All India Radio, All India Radio
External Service (offering broadcasts in local and
regional languages, Arabic and English), Radio Mirchi (a
commercial network in Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi and Kolkata
(Calcutta)), Radio City (a commercial station in Mumbai,
Bengaluru (Bangalore), Delhi and several other cities),
and commercial network Red FM, which broadcasts in
Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.