Phones in Rio

Like many things in Brazil, the simple process of using a telephone can be extremely confusing for first-timers in Rio. From public phones to dialling codes to mobiles, the phone system is far from simple.

The first thing to get your head around is the complicated dialling code system. If you’re dialling a non-local number, you’ll need to dial an operator code (021 or 031) before the area code, and then the telephone number. For international numbers, this gets even more complicated. For example, if you want to call the UK from Rio, the usual +44 plus the dialling code doesn’t apply. Instead, you need to dial 021 or 031 (either one will work), followed by 44 and then the number.

Another point to bear in mind about dialing codes is that mobile phones all have local codes. For example, if you buy a phone and SIM card (called a chip, pronounced chipee) in Sao Paulo, it will have a Sao Paulo dialing code. As such, if you then take the phone to Rio, every time you make a local call, you’ll be  calling long distance. Ditto, others in Rio calling you will be charged for a call to Sao Paulo. Confusing? You bet. Expensive? Extremely.

In this situation, the best solution is to copy your numbers, buy a new chip (R$5-15) and you will be using a local number.

Using a public phone is no walk in the park either. Known as oralhoes (big ears – one glance and you will see why), public phones take neither coins nor credit cards, but instead require that you use a pre-bought phone card. These are available at newspaper kiosks, and usually involve dialling the code on you card before making your call, with credits deducted according to the length of the call. There are different cards for national and international calls – be sure to ask for internacional if you want to call home.

I’d like to say that the system gets easier with time, but, even after two years in Rio, the Brazilian phone system still manages to throw me into confusion at times!