The telephone network has improved considerably since the mid 1980's. Telex, telephones and faxes are available at nearly every hotel and business.
Telegrams are still widely used.
International phone calls are possible only if you have an international line. International lines are available at all major hotels. Contact your long distance carrier to obtain their local operator number in Cairo. Based on people's experiences, phone calls made through these carriers sometimes cost less than calls made directly from Egypt, depending on the country you are calling. In addition, many companies worldwide offer Callback services , some of which operate in Egypt.