All dialled telephone calls in PNG are metered for charging purposes. Local calls advance a subscriber's meter one unit when the telephone number dialed answers; this is called one "meter pulse"

Seventy-four (74) per cent of Telikom’s business comes from major towns, 23 percent from minor urban centers and 3 percent from the rural sector. Profit margins are higher on international calls resulting in a cross-subsidy from international to domestic callers.

Local and STD Calls

In PNG, a telephone meter measures one unit of 30 toea per local call untimed. For an STD call, the meter advances at specified intervals for the duration of the call so that the average cost per minute is paid for. The charges are shown below. STD calls are half price between 5.30 pm and 7.30 am and all day Sunday.

International Direct Dial (IDD) Calls

IDD calls can be made to 162 countries around the world from PNG by following these steps:

• Dial the international access code "00";

• Dial the country code (consult a telephone directory);

• Dial the area code for the town or city (if applicable);

• Dial the telephone number.

The charges vary according to the country called but relate to the amount of time used, with no minimum charge. IDD charge rates are indicated by a charge band for each particular country.