Sat phone Subsidy

Yes received mine before I bought the phone. Very simple form and straight forward questions. Once completed and returned to Canberra the advice that I was successful arrived within a week or so.

To qualify you need to be out of normal phone coverage for 100 days in a 2 year period. In WA that's pretty easy to achieve.

Hi Shaker - this is the criteria.

. Eligible consumers include individuals, small businesses, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, Indigenous corporations, emergency service organisations, health organisations and educational institutions.
· Eligible applicants must spend 180 days over a two year period outside of terrestrial mobile phone coverage.
· The application must be approved before the phone is purchased. Note: The subsidy is paid to dealers, who deduct it from the retail price of the phone to consumers.

Read more and apply here: http://www.dbcde.gov.au/mobile_services/the_satellite_phone_subsidy_scheme

Motherhen

Yes, got about ours 2 months ago.As said questions OK, no tricky one's. Only took 2/3 weeks to come through. we go prospecting so met criteria OK. Brian

We got ours but what helped was that we are with Vodafone who have absolutely lousy coverage outside magor cities and highways. The rules about coverage are interpreted as meaning "outside YOUR ISP's coverage". Thus we were even ablte to claim 4 days loss of coverage on a drive to Adelaide from the ACT through Broken Hill.Broken Hill had coverage but none on the areas between. Thus three trips added up to 12 days. Extend that to "planned" trips and it was sinch. Even the weekend drives in the Snowy and Vic Hills were accepted.

But if you are with Telstra G3 etc then these days will not be acceptable for you as there is heaps of country coverage.

Remember this: I was told when I spoke to them that they do not expect us to BREAK a contract and change mobile providers. So they will accept YOUR actual coverage. Note this is not always the coverage as shown on the "lousy" prividors site claimed coverage map.

I do not believe that they want PROOF. Just a well presented plan of expected drives and/or tours.

What can help is stating that the phone is for emergency contact wit my doctor in case I have a relapse. Don't explain the relapse. I have an incurrable cancer but I did not tell them that. Note that I DID NOT LIE.

Best of luck

Phil

So how much is this subsidy?

I'm sure there are many legitimate cases and I'm not questioning anyone on this site, but this seems to have rort written all over it. Dealers wouldn't stretch the truth to sell phones.....would they?

G'Day Shaker,
Applied and received my subsidy and phone about 12 months ago. Just stated where I would be travelling, Cape, Tanami, GRR etc and took about 2 weeks. Mine is an Inmarsat and cost just on $400 after subsidy (about half price). Have had no trouble with operation, works anywhere. I took out a plan for $100 which lasts for 2 years and can add to at any time. Calls are fairly expensive though, mainly use text messages. Also with Inmarsat you cannot call 000 or 1300 No. etc. it must be to a specific number. Hope this has helped.
Cheers
Shelto