In 1996 mail to and from the city constituted about 9% of India's total mail traffic. About four and a half million pieces of mail were either sent from, or received in, Mumbai.
The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) is India's international telecom service provider. The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is the primary telecom service provider in the city. Apart from phones and fax, internet access and ISDN services are also available.
Bombay had a well developed international communications system long before it became possible to have a reliable mail service to the rest of India.