Syrian Arab Republic Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 963. Public telephones are available.

International roaming agreements have been established. Coverage is good, covering 95% of the populated areas.

Access to Internet services is available in universities and public offices.

Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 10 days. Parcels sent from the Syrian Arab Republic should be packed at the post office. There are post offices in virtually all towns.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1400; larger branches are open longer.

The government and Baath Party own and control much of the Syrian media. Criticism of the president and his family is not permitted and the domestic and foreign press are censored. Press freedom swelled after Bashar al-Assad became president in 2000, overseeing the licensing of the first private publications in almost 40 years. However, a subsequent press law imposed a range of restrictions. Publications had to obtain licences from the prime minister and could be suspended for violating content bans. Websites deemed to be offensive or anti-Syrian are banned by the government.

• The Syria Times is published daily in English.
• All other newspapers are in Arabic (the most important ones being Al-Baath, Al-Thawra and Tishrin).
• International papers are also widely available.

• Many viewers have access to foreign TV broadcasts, as well as the three state-run networks.
• The use of satellite receivers is permitted.
• Syrian TV is state run and operates domestic channels, plus a satellite service, broadcasting in Arabic, English and French.

• Private, commercial FM broadcasters are currently being developed, but will be unable to transmit news or political content.
• The first of these private FM stations has already emerged: Al-Madina FM, launched in March 2005.
• Syrian Arab Republic Radio is a state-run service, as is Radio Damascus, although this is an external service (broadcasting in several languages, including English).