Where do you get a good satellite phone for use in Afghanistan?
Posted Oct.05, 2010 in Satellite News
My friend is in the army and has a terrible phone right now that is constantly cutting out on him, bag signal, etc. etc. and he asked me to look into satellite phones for him. He’s coming home to Arizona for leave next week and doesn’t really know much about where to look for one, and I have no idea either, so I thought you lovely people might enlighten me, forward some links to where he can purchase a reputable satellite phone.
Tags: Afghanistan, Army, Coming Home, Good, People, Phone, Satellite, Satellite Phone, Satellite Phones
October 5th, 2010 on 6:25 pm
Try Verizon
October 5th, 2010 on 7:02 pm
I’m not sure if this is a route you want to go. Satellite phones are extraordinarily expensive and the plans they have are even more expensive.
For example, one company’s plans are as follows:
$45.99/month – 10 min/month – $1.89/extra min
$60.99/month – 35 min/month – $1.59/extra min
$129.99/month – 120 min/month – $1.49/extra min
$299.99/month – 240 min/month – $1.29/extra min
This is on top of the cost of a satellite phone which can range from $1000 (dirt cheap) to over $5000 or more. Rental rates for satellite phones generally are about $200/month. This does not include the cost of the plan which is in addition to the cost of the phone to rent.
Below are links for another company’s rates which don’t differ all that much from those above.
In all, if you got a basic plan, you would be looking at well over $500/month just in rental and plan costs… not to mention the extra $1.99/minute or so after your 60 minutes of free talk time.
October 5th, 2010 on 7:03 pm
I’m not sure why you friend in the Army would be using a cell phone in Afghanistan. There should be land-line phones on base that have decent service, given his location and such. Not only that, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to use cell phones in combat areas, especially since other people may be able to pick up what’s being said and use it against the US and/or their allies.
Sat phones ARE expensive, plus he may not want to use them in a combat zone. The Russians got really good at targeting the sat phones the Chechen rebels would use. The Russians would pick up the signal, fire artillery at the location, and they’d usually kill whoever was using it. You never know who may pass on that technology and technique. Not only that, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to use a sat phone while deployed as well. The US military likes to keep tabs on those sort of things in a combat area.
October 5th, 2010 on 7:37 pm
Thuraya is the main Sat phone used by the Army for official use in Afghanistan. I know for a fact it works in Afghanistan when you are outside and have a clear view of the southern sky.
They do not work in North America
Iridium phones work all over the world but are much more expensive.
Good Luck.
Personally I only used the government DSN phone to call home. If you know the right numbers your calls don’t get cut short.