Page 358 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

356  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications

Morocco’s telephone network is run by national operators
Maroc Télécom, Meditel and Wana. The network has
developed significantly and provides an efficient service,
despite occasional problems. The use of mobile telephones
is widespread. Postal services are generally reliable, although
deliveries can be subject to long delays. Moroccan television
is fighting a losing battle against satellite channels and
foreign programmes. Newspapers, many of which are
in French, cover current affairs both in Morocco and on
the international stage.
A téléboutique, where telephone calls can
be made and faxes sent
card. You make the call, and
then pay the cost (based in even the most remote
on the difference between regions of the country.
the number of units on the Most European network
card before and after your operators have arrangements
call). Calls made by this with one or other of the three
method are more expensive Moroccan network operators,
but obviate the need to buy so that visitors can use their
a whole card. mobile phones in Morocco
(but bear in mind that calls
will be expensive).
Public Telephone Centres
Mobile-phone users may
The number of small public also buy a prepaid SIM card
telephone centres, known from either of the Moroccan
A typical yellow postbox seen on the as téléboutiques, has mush- network operators. For a
street in Morocco roomed in Morocco. These modest charge (no more
centres are run either by than about 200 dirhams), you
Public Telephones
private operators or by are provided with a Moroccan
Public phone boxes, which one of the three national number through which
are relatively rare, are usually operators. They house plastic national and international
located outside post offices, phone boxes or kiosks (which calls can be made at more
markets and bus stations. are usually a sandy colour) favourable rates.
Coin-operated telephones with card-operated, coin-
are still relatively common, operated or metered Useful Dialling Codes
and they take coins up to telephones. The cards that
a denomination are sold here • Telephone numbers
of 5 dirhams. often only work consist of ten digits,
Because of the in telephones in and the country is
number of coins the centre from divided into two zones
needed, it is not which the card (052 and 053).
practical to make was bought or – Casablanca zone: 0522
international in telephones + 6 digits
calls from a Moroccan phonecard owned by the – Rabat zone: 0537
coin-operated relevant operator. + 6 digits
– Marrakech zone: 0524
telephone. Such calls are best Faxes can also usually be sent + 6 digits
made from a card-operated and received in these public – Fès zone: 0535 + 6 digits.
telephone. Phonecards are telephone centres. • Always dial ten digits,
available at post offices and whether calling from
in tobacconists, which are one zone to another or
indicated by a blue and Mobile Phones within a single zone.
white sign with three Almost everyone, it seems, • To call Morocco from
interlinked rings. has a mobile phone in abroad: dial 00 212 + nine
With some telephones, Morocco. The three competing digits (the ten-digit number
an illegal card rental system network operators – Méditel, minus the initial 0).
applies. The cardholder Maroc Télécom and Wana – • To dial internationally: dial
inserts the phonecard for are locked in a fierce price war. 00 + country code +
you, noting the number The network is excellent and telephone number.
of existing units on the mobile phones can be used

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