Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme

Maybe get on to www.landwide.com.au and ask your question to the people that know....

:)

Hi,

Yes.. I have a friend who has..
No hassles, apparently they are only too happy to help (with our money).
Cheers

Pedro,
Go to www.dcita.gov.au/satphone.
The form and all relevant info is there.
Dean

mmm i know of a bloke who got his for the following reason:
travel frequently between adelaide - broken hill - Mildura with very little mobile phone contact. Need phone to stay in contact with office.

you need to let them know the areas you work in or travel in frequently that are out of range. If its just a case of you needing a car kit for a CDMA, its most likely they will tell you this and you will not get the grant. They ask for locations to check the nearest CDMA cell.

As an aside, The phone needs to be held at all times in the first 2 years by someone eligible for the scheme (you cant just flog it off to a random mate) however you CAN get the scheme now while there is dodgy CDMA coverage in your area, cancel the phones plan a few days later and then wait till you actually need the phone (ie for a big trip etc) before reactivating it. Most telcos only let you suspend your plan for 1/4 of the year max.
If you go for the cheapest plan the provider offers, you will only get a few hundred as a rebate- you need to get a high plan to get the full $2k rebate, but you can still cancel at any time so long as you hold onto the phone. I figure while I meet the requirements I will do that now and save myself $2k later. I checked it all out with the scheme provider and they couldnt find a problem with it.

Has anyone purchased a sat phone from overseas?

Can you stick a normal sim card into them?

Hi pedro,
I applied a couple of months ago and stated that i would be travelling in the North west in areas outside normal coverage for a few months of the year and had no dramas.
I think they are only too keen to get some people useing their multi million dollar satelite. We got the motorola 9505a on a $30 plan and are happy with it.
Great insurance.
Jeff

Pedro,

You can read the guidelines for the Satellite Phone Subsidey Scheme here. Eligibility is limited to those who "live, work, or operate a business in an area not served by a current terrestrial mobile phone service or where a terrestrial mobile phone service is not planned for introduction within 12 months of the application." We purchased a satphone back in April from Telstra and could not get the subsidy simply because we intended to travel into remote reasons. Being a tourist does not qualify you.

Another option you could consider is buying your satphone through Telstra who have an interest free purchase plan option. Basically you can pay either nothing or any amount up to the purchase price of the handset then pay the remainder off interest free in monthly installments over two years. Monthly access plans are charged on top and start at $30. The handset is a Motorola 9505 which we are very happy with. Kit also comes with magnetic antenna for in-car use and 12V charger.

:o) Melissa

Thanks to all who replied.
I have been in touch with the Department handling the subsidy, and they confirmed approval to a subsidy for tourists travelling in out of CDMA range is available if certain conditions (unstated) were met.
Melissa missed out whilst Woobla and Nudenut's friend had subsidy approved.This would indicate that the wording on application , as to reason a sat phone is needed is the key to decision given by department.

Pedro

Pedro,
Applied in June this year via the website and had no problems getting a 80%
subsidy. Stated I would be travelling in remote regions for 3 months at a time
as a single, which I did,as a tourist, and from a saftey point of view a sat phone
was a necessity. Landwide in Appin NSW handled the whole thing. No dramas
at all.
Mike B