AT&T Operator-Handled Manual Non-Dial Countries

Edwards Finance > Phones

Q. Here is the most recent information I have on those parts of the world which are still AT&T Operator-Handled manual non-customer-dial. AT&T states that all calls via AT&T from the US to these countries must be handled by the AT&T International Operator Center in Pittsburgh PA. A call would start off by dialing the 'local' AT&T operator as: 00 (if the line is presubscribed to AT&T) or the following additional access methods, if necessary ... 10(10)288-0('#'/0) 800-CALL-ATT, 800-321-0288, 800-OPERATO(R), etc.

A. Back in "Bell System" days, there were several more IOC's throughout the US, usually located in the same cities where there were a #4A-XB or #4ESS switch which performed international/overseas gateway functions, but since most every country in the world is now customer dialable, it probably has made more sense for AT&T to consolidate these functions to just one IOC location. In 1979, the Pittsburgh IOC operator positions were cordboards, with associated Nortel-TOPS-like terminals -- keyboard and _TWO_ video-monitors. I don't know if the AT&T Pittsburgh IOC still uses a cordboard or if it is exclusively now using OSPS-like equipment. Afghanistan has had ITU/CCITT-assigned country code +93 for probably 30 years (and a two-digit country-code at that), but probably due to the war or conflict there, AT&T doesn't yet have the necessary relationship with connecting carriers to provide customer-dial service. I understand that BT (British Telecom) offers customer-dial service from the UK to Afghanistan. I was unable to get any city/area code information for locations in Afghanistan from "BT-Direct", and was also unable to get such from MCI. MCI's customer service told me that they _do_ offer customer-dial service from the US to Afghanistan, probably due to their association with BT. However, MCI did quote me the rates for dial calls to Afghanistan. These are the "basic" or "tariffed" rates, unless one is on an MCI international discount rate-plan, and these rates are in effect 24-hours/day 7-days/week: Peak (7am-6pm) US$ 7.53 initial minute US$ 5.03 additional minute Off-Peak (6pm-7am) US$ 6.21 initial minute US$ 4.15 additional minute I did check with Telecom NZ Direct, Canada Direct, and Australia's Telstra-Direct. Only Australia currently offers customer-dial service to Afghanistan. The Telstra-Direct Operator was only able to find a city/area code for one city, Kabul, the Capital. But he was unable to determine the local number digit-length. +93-121- Kabul

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