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From: jwb@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Jim Breen)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Calls to and Within Australia
Message-ID: <15355@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 10 Dec 90 02:42:54 GMT
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In article <15282@accuvax.nwu.edu>, cmoore@brl.mil (VLD/VMB) writes:

> David Wilson <david@cs.uow.edu.au> writes (w/r to Australia):
> >It is not possible to tell if a call is local (but to an adjacent area
> >code) or within an area code but at STD rates (disjoint charging
> >districts) without knowing a little bit of geography and which
> >exchanges are where.

> How are local and long distance calls made within Australia?

The same as in most other countries, i.e. you have an area code
(invariably beginning with a 0) and a local number. The area code is
only necessary when dialing from another area.

David Wilson is referring to the fact that you cannot rely on the
presence/absence of an area code to tell you whether a call is
"local", i.e. flat rate (22c) or "trunk" i.e. timed. We have some
areas about the size of US states or European countries. You do get a
"pip-pip-pip" sound at a start of a call to warn you that it is
time-charged.


Jim Breen     AARNet:jwb@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au  
Department of Robotics & Digital Technology. 
Monash University. PO Box 197 Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia
(ph) +61 3 573 2552 (fax) +61 3 573 2745           JIS:$B%8%`!!%V%j!<%s(J