Venezuela's cellphone providers suspend international calls

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuelas-cellphone-providers-suspend-international-calls/

CARACAS, Venezuela -Venezuela's two main cellphone service providers are suspending long distance calling as the South American country struggles to pay its bills.

Movistar, a subsidiary of the Spain-based Telefonica, and Digitel both announced last week that they would be cutting international service because of issues related to Venezuela's byzantine currency controls. Digitel ended that service on Saturday while Movistar will do so Friday.

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Currency rationing is increasingly cutting Venezuela's global trade. Many airline companies have abandoned the country, and mail delivery is also limited.

The government has created what amount to subsidized rates for hard currency and requires companies to get approval for converting local bolivars into dollars. With the administration running low on dollars itself amid a general economic collapse, officials are increasingly reluctant to part with any foreign currency.