Telephones

International direct dialing is widely available (although lines to the UK. can be difficult to obtain  at  peak times such as early  evening.).To call the UK. Dial 0044 + the std code (minus the first  0, eg 1293 not 01293) + the number. To call Eire dial 00 353.
Most hotels offer either telephones in the rooms or use of a reception telephone. However be sure to check approximate cost before making you call as a premium rate is often charged. Yellow PTT and blue Telecom puplic call boxes are available in most of the tourist areas and take phone cards. Post offices also usually have a mtered phone where the call can be paid for according to the units used.

Communication

The postal and telecommunications services were separated from each other to make them more effective. The General Directorate of Postal Services (PTT) and the Turkish Telecommunications Corporation (Türk Telekom) started to operate independently. Postal services continue to function in 4,481 workplaces, including 1,080 centers, 2,019 branches and 1,382 agencies. Automation work at PTT centers were completed at the end of 2003. Moreover, efforts to privatize Türk Telekom have gained momentum in recent years.

There are at present three private mobile telephone companies operating in Turkey and they compete to meet the steadily increasing demand in mobile telephones and to facilitate the implementation of new technological developments. The new Telecommunications Law No. 4502, which went into force on January 29, 2000, was necessary for the creation of a competitive environment in the sector and Türk Telekom was granted the right to set up and operate the first GSM 1,800 mobile telephone network. Türk Telekom established Aycell Communications and Sales Services Inc. to build and operate the 1,800 lines.

Turkey entered a period of extraordinary development in satellite communications and the first step in this field was taken when the Türksat 1B communications satellite was launched into orbit on behalf of Türk Telekom by the French
Aerospatiale company in 1994. Türksat 1B, Turkey’s first satellite, was followed by Türksat 1C which was launched into
space in 1996 and two ground stations were built near Ankara. After these steps, a joint venture company named Eurosiasat was established. 75% of its shares belong to Türk Telekom and 25% belong to Alcatel Spacecom. Eurosiasat was established to operate and market the third satellite on an international platform. The new satellite, Türksat 2A, provides services to Turkey, Europe and Asia. Thanks to Türksat 2A, the most powerful satellite of its kind among similar ones because of its 32 channels and higher power levels on coverage areas, Turkey has become one of the leading countries in the field of satellite communications in the world.

The number of cable TV subscribers as of the end of 2002 was 954,612. The number of cellular telephone subscribers reached 15 million and telephone subscribers reached 19 million at the end of 2002. The Turpak network, established with the objective of developing domestic and international capabilities for communications between computers, and of expanding it throughout the country, enables terminals or computers of different types to communicate compatibly.

The Eurasia Postal Union was formed to facilitate and develop relations with other countries in the region, especially the Central Asian Turkish-speaking Republics. The First Eurasia Postal Union Congress was held in İstanbul between July 5 and 7, 2001.