Country Information

Country Code: . CODETEL (owned and operated by Verizon), Dominican Republic's telecommunications company, has produced the 'Comunicard', which enables tourists visiting the country to phone anywhere abroad from any touch-tone phone.

Roaming agreements exist with a number of international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good along most coastal areas and around towns but patchy elsewhere. There is a 3G network.

The number of Internet cafés is rapidly growing as the Dominican Republic embraces the Internet. Expect to pay between 20 and 35 pesos for 30 minutes' use.

The ownership of newspapers, TV channels and radio stations lays in the hands of a few economically or politically powerful benefactors. There are several terrestrial TV channels and some 30 multichannel cable TV operators. Most of the 200-plus radio stations are commercial. Rumba FM is typical of Santo Domingo's lively earful of merengue and salsa music stations.

Press freedom is protected by law. Consequently, media outlets carry diverse political views although some subjects, such as the Catholic Church and the army, are generally avoided. Daily papers are in Spanish and include El Caribe, Hoy, Listín Diario and El Nacional. The English-language Santo Domingo News is published weekly on Wednesday and can be obtained in many hotels. There are online English-language news services at www.dominicantoday.com and www.dr1.com.

Airmail takes about 10 days to reach Western Europe. It is advisable to post all mail at the central post office in Santo Domingo to ensure rapid handling.