Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

226  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Media and Communications

Australia has efficient mobile and data services networks,
with major telecommunications operators providing good
coverage across the Sydney region, though mobile signals can
be patchy in some rural areas. Free Wi-Fi is widely avail able in
Sydney and near popular attractions. Australia has one of the
world’s highest rates of mobile phone use, with more than
31 million active mobile phone accounts in a population of
23 million. In spite of this, the national carrier Telstra
maintains a network of public payphones. Daily newspapers
are still published, but news is largely accessed online and
via mobiles. Six main television networks and numerous radio People using free Wi-Fi on their laptops at a
stations cover a range of interests and entertainment needs. café in the Kings Cross area of Sydney
Internet and Wi-Fi
International and offering a range of plans are Numerous free Wi­Fi hotspots
Local Phone Calls
avail able from Optus, Telstra, are available throughout the
Local calls (those with the 02 Virgin and Vodafone, and online city. Most hotels, cafés, libraries,
area code) are untimed and companies such as Telestial. You shopping centres, transport
cost 50 cents. Credit card will get a nine­digit local mobile hubs and tourist attractions
public phones have a mini mum number. You must have an provide free access – some
charge of A$1.20, making them unlocked compat i ble inter­ require a password, while
uneco nomical for local calls. national phone; if in doubt, check others just invite you to join
A cheaper option is to buy with your service provider. the network. A list of free
an international calling card for Wi­Fi hotspots is available at
the country you will be calling. www.freewifi.com.au.
These are avail able at news­ Public Telephones As Wi­Fi has become more
agents and convenience stores. Telstra­operated public pay­ widely available and smart­
Online phone directories are phones are found all over the phones provide easy access
available at www.whitepages. city. Payment options include to mobile data and online
com.au, or on the free Sensis coins, pre­paid phonecards services, there are fewer Internet
White Pages smartphone app. (avail able at newsagents, cafés in the city. A popular one,
convenience stores and some however, is Legend Café, which
chemists), and the more offers high­speed access to a
Mobile Phones
expensive operator­assisted range of pre­installed games at
Mobile phones are ubiquitous calls. Most payphones accept an hourly rate. The State Library
in Australia. You can rent one coins and phonecards, although provides free access to Internet­
from Vodafone at their shop some operate solely with enabled computers for up to an
in the airport international phonecards and credit cards. hour at a time in the Governor
arrivals hall (open 6am–10pm). Newer smart payphones Marie Bashir Reading Room, and
A popular option is to buy include SMS text messaging for 30 minutes on express
an Australian SIM card to use in services and a hearing aid computers in the Verandah
your mobile phone – the call and coupler to assist the hard of and Special Collections area.
data rates are much cheaper hearing. The phone booths
than roaming charges using display instructions and Postal Services
your own service plan. SIM cards numbers to call for assistance.
All domestic mail is first class
and usually arrives within one
to four days, depending on
distance. Be sure to include
the postcode in the address
to avoid delays in delivery.
Express Post, for which you
need to buy one of the special
yellow envelopes sold in post
offices, guarantees next­day
delivery in designated areas of
Australia. International airmail
takes up to 10 days to reach
most countries, longer at
Telstra public telephone booths busy times such as Christmas.

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