Dialing to Mexico From overseas

Dial the International access code (in most cases this is 00, in the USA it is 010) followed by Mexico's country code (52), the area code in Mexico (see National Calls, above) and then the seven or eight digit local number.

Calls to and From Mexican Phones (Land Lines)

Local Calls - To make local calls, ignore the area code, and dial direct, just as you would do at home. Note that major cities' numbers have EIGHT numbers and other places have SEVEN numbers.

National Calls - Dial 01 which is the prefix for all non-local calls in Mexico, followed by the area code, followed by telephone number.

International Calls - To access a number outside of Mexico, you need to prefix the number with 00 (the international access code) then the country code, and then the national area code (omitting the first zero if there is one), and then the local number.

Cellular Telephones

Mexico has an extensive cellular telephone network. One side-effect of Telmex spun-off its mobile operations into a separate company called America Movil and their service in Mexico is called 'Telcel'. The other main operators are 'USACell' and Spain's 'Movistar' (owned by Telefonica).

Telcel has by far the most extensive network coverage. Outside of big cities and major towns, Telcel may be the only network available, although the others are developing their networks in more remote regions.

Rates from and to cell phones in Mexico are predictably high, especially in comparison with land-line calls. Mexico is divided up into "roaming regions" and when you travel outside of your phone's "home region" charges begin to escalate.