Satphone Plans

Call Rates:

Call Type	Charge
National Call (per 30 seconds)	$0.75
Voicemail - Deposit & Retrieval	$0.75
Activ8me Satphone to Satphone (per 30 seconds)	$0.75
Australian Mobile Phone (per 30 seconds)	$0.75
International Calls (per 30 seconds)	$3.00
Other Satellite Provider Calls (per 30 seconds)	$3.00
Flagfall	$0.40
SMS	$0.50
Data (per 10kb)*	$0.08
Data Price (per MB)	$8.00

*Data must be activated on handset. Check with customer support regarding availability and network configuration. Data is charged in 10kb increments.
Call cost for a standard 2 minute national mobile call is $3.40.

How do I sign up for an Activ8me Satellite Phone Service?

To sign up or see if you are eligible for a Satphone subsidy from the Australian Government please call 1800 80 44 10.

What is Activ8me Satellite Phone Service?

Activ8me Satphone is a mobile phone equivalent handset that operates on the Thuraya Satellite network to deliver voice and messaging services anywhere in Australia. Satphones are ideal for people who live or work in remote and rural Australia and do not receive a terrestrial mobile network signal. Australian Government subsidies are available that cover up to 85% of the satellite handset cost.

Satellite Phone Coverage

Satphone coverage is available anywhere in mainland Australia and surrounding waters. From remote cattle stations in central Australia to regional areas on the coast satphones can receive coverage anywhere you have a clear line of site to the sky.

The Activ8me satellite phone service is possible through Thuraya (Tha-RAY-ya), a world leader in mobile satellite communications technology. Thuraya was founded over 10 years ago by an international consortium of telecommunications operators and uses technology developed and built by Boeing Satellite Services.

Australian Government Subsidy

A subsidy is provided by the Australian Government to make mobile communications more accessible and affordable for people living or working in areas beyond 3G or GSM terrestrial mobile coverage.

Who is eligible for the satphone subsidy?

Australian citizens and permanent residents, or registered businesses in Australia. You must live, work, or operate a business in an area not served by a current terrestrial mobile phone service. This includes Australia's air space, external territories and Exclusive Economic Zone.

You must either:

• Live in an area of Australia where terrestrial mobile phone coverage is not available;
• Run a small business in an area of Australia where terrestrial mobile phone coverage is not available; or
• Spend a substantial amount of time (180 days per year) in an area of Australia where terrestrial mobile phone coverage is not available.

 

You must also be one of the following:

• A private individual;
• A community group (non government funded);
• A not-for-profit organisation with less than 20 full-time equivalent employees - including casual and part-time (non government funded);
• An Indigenous Corporation;
• A small business;
• A volunteer emergency service; or
• An educational institution

 

How much is the subsidy?

The amount depends on your address and the price of the phone.

• Up to 85% of the retail price of the phone, to a maximum of $1,000 (including GST) if you live or run a business in an area without terrestrial mobile phone coverage.
• Up to 50% of the retail price of the phone, to a maximum of $700 (including GST) if you live or operate a business in an area that has terrestrial mobile phone coverage, but you spend 120 days per year in areas of Australia without coverage

 

To take advantage of the Australian Government's Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme, please download and fill out the form below and send back to:

The Administrator
Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
GPO Box 2154
CANBERRA 2601

DOWNLOAD: Australian Government Satellite Phone Subsidy Application Form

Critical Information Summary (CIS) for Activ8me SatPhone can be found here.