As part of major economic reforms in the country which included the privatization of government run businesses, telecommunications services in Brazil are operated by a number of companies.

International and interstate calls can also be made from the various telephone bureaus in the towns. Here you are issued with a key at the counter which you insert and turn to operate the phone. You will be charged at the end of your call.

There are numerous public phones with the blue ones for long distance and inter-city calls and the red ones for local calls. Phone cards are available for purchase from street vendors and newspaper agencies for use in public phones. An alternative is to use an international calling card from your country of origin which can be cheaper for making overseas calls.

Mobile phone services:

By 2001, there were an estimated 28 million mobile phone users in Brazil. Mobile phone networks cover most parts of the country though reception can be at times very poor in the interior regions. You can subscribe to a roaming service from your local mobile phone service provider to keep in touch with family and friends while overseas. Note that with roaming, you will be charged to receive calls.

You can also purchase locally a SIM card to use while in the country though care should be taken to prevent the phone from being stolen.