The Orelhão (“Big Ear”), Seen in Rio

The Orelhão (“big ear”), seen in this photo by Instagram user riri__g, is still a common site in Brazil, even in the cell phone age. The stubborn survival of this Brazilian icon, however, could finally be coming to an end. Telefonica Brasil and Oi, two of Brazil’s leading phone companies, have been forced by government regulators to maintain roughly 750,000 payphones nationwide — a supply which far exceeds demand and costs the companies millions. The telcos have petitioned the government to waive these requirements. Given the much bigger problems facing the country it might be some time before the matter is addressed.