Page 322 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

320  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media

Belgium and Luxembourg have excellent communications
links. Both countries are also areas of rapid change: mobile
telephones are replacing landlines and public telephones
have all but disappeared; email is undermining the postal
service; and the Internet has made inroads into newspaper
journalism and broadcasting. However, both nations have a
conservative streak that battles to maintain traditional
services, but they are also keen to grab a front seat in the
communications revolution. As a result, both the old and the
new media are generally well provided for.

enabled. North American
mobile phones will only operate
in Belgium and Luxembourg if Accessing free Wi-Fi at a café in the Galéries
they are tri- or quad-band. St-Hubert, Brussels
Roaming charges are being
abolished in Europe from June pay for usage, but often it is
2017. Until then, to save money included as part of the hotel
and avoid extra charges, visitors service, accessed by codes
can buy a prepaid SIM for a local supplied by the hotel reception.
A shop selling mobile phones and SIMs network provider and pay local Many restaurants, cafés and
in Belgium rates. Make sure before bars offer free Wi-Fi. There are a
travelling that your phone is number of free Wi-Fi hotspots
Telephones unlocked so that it accepts a in public areas throughout the
Mobile phone networks cover SIM card from another network. region, especially in key cities,
Belgium and Luxembourg In Belgium, the main networks such as the Grand Place and
effectively. Not all coverage in are Proximus, Mobistar and the Place de Brouckere in
the region is equal, however, BASE and in Luxembourg, Post, Brussels. Proximus has a
and it is worth checking with Tango and Orange. hotspot system for Wi-Fi users
the network provider how Hotels generally charge in Belgium, while in Luxembourg,
good the signal will be where premium rates to use their free Wi-Fi is available from
you are travelling. It is also a landline phones for international Luxembourg City.
good idea to check with your calls, making them a very
pro vider that full roaming expensive option. There are very
services are available – and how few public telephones. Postal Services
much they cost to use. Post offices in Belgium are
Mobile networks in Belgium Internet Services generally open Monday to
and Luxembourg use the Friday from 8:30am or 9am to
European-standard GSM Belgium and Luxembourg have 4pm or 5pm. Some stay open
900/1800 MHz frequencies, so good Internet infrastructures. late on Fridays, and are open
UK and Australian mobiles work Most hotels have Wi-Fi.
if they have a roaming facility Sometimes guests have to
Dialling Codes
• In Belgium and Luxembourg, there is no distinction between a
long-distance call and a local call. The former area codes in Belgium
have been incorporated into local numbers and must be dialled
even when making a call from within the same area.
• To make a direct call from abroad, dial 00, then the country code
(Belgium 32, Luxembourg 352).
• For international directory enquiries and operator-assistance in
French, dial 1304, or in Flemish, 1204.
• For domestic directory enquiries in Flemish, dial 1207.
• For domestic directory enquiries in French, dial 1307.
• For domestic directory enquiries in German, dial 1404.
• For domestic directory enquiries in English, dial 1404.
• For directory enquiries and international operator assistance in
Luxembourg, dial 118171 or 11816. A distinctive traditional red post box
in Belgium

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