Practical information about Guam
Postal service
Postage stamps are readily available at the U.S. Post Offices, hotels, some
stores and vending machines. Mail freight also is supported by DHL, UPS,
DHX, EMERY, FEDEX.
Electricity
All normal wall outlets are 120 volts, 60 cycles with U.S. plug patterns.
Communications
The telephone switching protocal called Feature Group D places Guam in
World Zone I which includes the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii
that are reached by dialing 1+ the area code + number. Because Guam is
considered domestic by the FCC, domestic rates and access to toll-free numbers
(i.e. 800,
877, 888) are similar to those in the U.S.
Guam is a telecommunications trans-Pacific hub for Sprint, MCI, GTE,
IT&E and AT&T
linking the US and
Asia via undersea fiber cables. It falls within an area covered by several Asian
communications satellites and is within two time zones of almost all East
Asian countries.
Based on its size and population, Guam arguably has one of the most extensive telecom
infrastructures in the Asia Pacific region and most areas throughout the United States.
Telecom on Guam has important civil defense and homeland security obligations, and the
infrastructure is in place to meet these challenges.
As a natural communications gateway between the Asia Pacific Rim and North America,
Guam is one of the most connected places on Earth.
Lawrence P. Perez, Exec vp for Teleguam writes, "There are currently 10 separate submarine cables with landing points on Guam,
connecting Asia and Australia with the United States. Two other submarine cables
are under construction."
On the 212-square-mile island, there are multiple fiber optic network rings using the
latest transmission technology. Different communications companies have fiber reach
into neighborhoods and homes.
The fiber network rings have nodes at Guam's three landing stations --
Tumon Bay, Piti and Tanguisson -- allowing local interconnections to alternate routes
and cable diversity.
Today on Guam, there are two competing pay television providers, three competitive local
exchange carriers (CLECs) and four wireless companies, in addition to a local
telephone company operating as carrier of last resort.
Transportation
There are several airlines serving Guam to most major international,
continental, and Pacific destinations. These are ANA, Gulf Air, JAL,
Northwest, Continental, Thai Air, Qantas, Philippine Air, and Nauru Air.
A public bus transportation system began operation in 1982.
Tour excursions, taxicabs, and car rentals are available.
Radio and Television
The radio stations operating on Guam are Adventist world Radio, Catholic
Education Radio, Hit Radio 100-KOKU, KOLG Light 91 FM, KPRG Public Radio,
KSDA FM JOY 92, KTWG 801 am, K-Stereo 95.5 FM, KUAM 610AM,
Newstalk K-57, Power 98FM, and Trans World Radio.
The television broadcasting companies are KGTF Public TV, Kuam TV8, KTGM-TV14
and
Marianas Cable TV (about 100 channels of programming).
Banking Institutions
The financial institutions operating on Guam are: Allied Bank, American
Savings & Loan, Asahi Bank, Bank of Guam, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of
the Orient, Century Bank, Citibank N A, Citizens Security Bank Inc, Finance
Factors Ltd, First commercial Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Hongkong Bank, First
Savings & Loan of America, Guam Savings & Loan, Metropolitan Bank and Trust
Co, NAVMAR Federal Credit Union, Oceanic Bank, Pacific Islands Dev Bank,
Union Bank, Hawaiian Trust Company Ltd.
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