Country code: 960.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent throughout the islands. Handsets can be hired by the day.

The Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has several Internet cafes and almost all resorts have Internet connections.

Airmail to Western Europe takes about one week.

Post office hours: Sat-Thurs 0730-1330 and 1600-1750.

Criticism of the state is limited, and the government occasionally closes media outlets for this reason. Self-regulation by the media has meant that there has been only isolated official action against journalists.

• Local dailies which publish in the Dhivehi language have some English-language pages and concentrate on local and regional topics.
• The Maldives News Bulletin is published weekly in English.
• The other dailies Aafathis Daily News, Haveeru Daily and Miadhu News have English sections.
• Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.

The government controls the sole TV service, Television Maldives (TVM), which operates two channels.

• The government controls the state radio station Voice of Maldives.
• Radio Eke is also state owned.