Tag Archives: satellite airtime

Changes to Inmarsat airtime plans including IsatPhone Pro & FleetBroadband

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In response to recent changes brought in by Inmarsat there will be adjustments to both IsatPhone Pro and FleetBroadband airtime plans in the coming months.  Please note these changes apply to existing and new customers and we advise customers to read the following information carefully to get the best value from their Inmarsat equipment in the future.

If you have any questions at all about how these changes affect you please do not hesitate to contact us.


 

IsatPhone Pro Pre-Paid Airtime with effect from 1 June 2012

Inmarsat are changing the validity and pricing of pre-paid vouchers for the IsatPhone Pro as shown in the table below.

GTC advice to existing customers: Top-up before 1 June 2012 to extend your entire balance for another two years.

GTC advice to new customers: Purchase and activate your SIM before 1 June 2012 to take advantage of the highest validity possible.

Voucher Current Validity Validity from 1 June Price
25 units 2 years 30 days TBC
50 units 2 years 90 days TBC
100 units 2 years 180 days TBC
250 units 2 years 180 days TBC
500 units 2 years 365 days TBC
1,000 units 2 years 365 days TBC
2,500 units 2 years 365 days TBC
5,000 units 2 years 365 days TBC

 


 

Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro Post-Paid Airtime with effect from 1 June 2012

Although there is still a great range of plans available for the IsatPhone Pro pricing and inclusive minutes have changed.  Please note that exisiting customers will be moved on to these plans and therefore those on the Standard Plan will see increases in their monthly fee – however, they will also now receive 10 inclusive minutes per month and keep their flexible 1 month minimum term.

To compare the latest IsatPhone contracts please visit our website.

 

Inmarsat FleetBroadband Airtime with effect from 1 May 2012

For basic occasional use on FleetBroadband terminals we are now recommending the Fishing & Leisure plans starting from $50/month.  This gives you 5 MB, 30 mins and 20 SMS per month and still has the flexible 1 month minimum.

Please visit our website to find out more about the Fishing & Leisure plans and our other FleetBroadband plans.

Iridium 9555 Starter Package

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Buy now

Iridium 9555 Starter Package

<<Iridium 9555 + 75 minutes + Peli case>>

Only £850 (ex VAT)

Normally £924 (ex VAT)

Visit our website for more information

 

* Valid until 30 September 2011
* Iridium 9555 £785, 75 minutes worth £99, and carry case £40 (ex VAT)
* Telephone orders only - call us on +44(0)1202 607486

GeoPro Messenger now available from Global Telesat Communications

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Global Telesat Communications are now stocking the handheld GeoPro Messenger which offers two-way text messaging anywhere in the world via the Iridium satellite system.  The GeoPro Messenger is not restricted by the normal mobile phone networks, but is truly global in its coverage, offering users the facility of one-button contact with emergency services and two-way text messaging between friends and relatives (unlike some other tracking devices), as well as an online web facility for tracking progress of the user.

Despite its small size (125mm x 63mm x 37mm) and light weight (380g), the GeoPro Messenger is feature rich. In a crisis the user can press a single button to alert the emergency services and give them an exact location, yet in happier times he can use the QWERTY keyboard to exchange emails or text messages of up to 160 characters. The GeoPro also offers the facility to send regular ‘check in’ messages (with the added safety feature of automatic prompts if the schedule is missed), to capture and store significant waypoints and to enable followers to track your progress via the internet.

GeoPro Messenger

GeoPro Messenger now available from Global Telesat Communications

Powered by a Lithium Ion battery that will provide power for up to 1000 message reports between charges, the GeoPro Messenger is waterproof and dustproof to IP66 standard. It operates from -10ºC to +50ºC and has a monochrome, backlit, anti-glare display screen.

The GeoPro Messenger fits neatly into the range of satellite communications systems offered by Global Telesat Communications and ensures that wherever anyone is, whether at sea or on land, they need no longer be out of reach. With the GeoPro, they now have messaging immediately available at an affordable price. The GeoPro even comes with its own software application for secure (https) web based mapping, multiple user messaging and address books. It’s a powerful and sophisticated device offering potentially life saving facilities.

The retail price for the GeoPro Messenger from Global Telesat Communications is £450.00 ex VAT. There is no activation fee, although there is a one-off software licence fee of $50 (ex VAT) and a monthly service fee, including mapping, of $35 (ex VAT), with a charge of $0.20 (ex VAT) per message.

Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro Airtime Rates Now Available!

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Inmarsat

Global Telesat Communications is pleased to announce that we now have airtime rates available for the new IsatPhone Pro. Inmarsat are proving very competitive with their sat phone call charges on both pre-paid and post-paid airtime for their Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS).

Inmarsat GSPS Pre-Paid Airtime

Other satellite networks such as Iridium and Thuraya offer a range of validity periods on different vouchers which can become confusing. Inmarsatare offering a flat two year validity on all pre-paid vouchers, even the smaller denominations. This is great for customers who only use their sat phone in emergencies but don’t want to lose their credit if they don’t use it. What’s more the rate per minute works out to be good value with costs varying from £0.61 – £1.00 per minute to fixed lines depending on the volume of airtime you buy.

A drawback for some pre-paid users will be that currently pre-paid service may not be used for calls within, from or to the United States. This will be resolved at a later date.

Inmarsat GSPS Post-Paid Airtime

All other satellite phone networks offer a standard contract with a 12 month minimum period. Inmarsat are breaking boundaries by offering 3 different contracts, all with no activation fee and two of which have no minimum term! This makes the IsatPhonevery flexible for those occasional users. For those who frequently use their sat phone Inmarsat is offering two plans which have inclusive minutes making call costs even cheaper.  Call costs to a fixed line range from £0.60 – £0.66 per minute depending on which plan you choose.

Summary of IsatPhone Pro Post-Paid Plans
 
Standard Plan
Allowance 20 Plan
Allowance 60 Plan
Monthly Fee
$20.00
$35.00
$60.00
Inclusive Minutes Each Month
0
20*
60**
Minimum Contract Duration (Months)
0
0
12
 
* Allowance for Voice to Fixed traffic only. No rollover of unused minutes.
** Allowance is for mobile originated traffic to fixed/cellular/voicemail/GSPS/SPS/BGAN/FBB/SBB. No rollover of unused minutes.

 We have already had some questions as to why you would choose the Standard Plan when there are no inclusive minutes, why not just choose pre-paid?  Well, the advantage that post-paid always has over pre-paid vouchers is that you do not have to worry about topping up your airtime, running out of credit or losing credit after validity periods have ended – you will always be able to make a call.  Considering there is no minimum contract on the Standard Plan it is still a very flexible option for occasional users.

Global Telesat Communications are proud to be a verified bronze partner of Inmarsatwhich is why you can trust us with your IsatPhone Pro handset and airtime purchase.

For advice on which IsatPhone airtime plan will suit your requirements please contact us.

Post-Paid or Pre-Paid Satellite Airtime?

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Just like mobile phones, when it comes to choosing airtime for satellite phones there are two options – post-paid and pre-paid airtime.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both options but we aim to give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision to ensure you choose the most cost effective and best suited airtime option for your requirements.

Post-Paid Contracts
Satellite airtime contracts are available on the Iridium, Thuraya, Globalstar and Inmarsat satellite networks.  If you are willing to sign up to the commitment of a 12 month minimum contract there can be many benefits to post-paid satellite airtime.  Unlike pre-paid airtime you do not have to worry about minutes or SIM cards expiring – you will be able to use your SIM for as long as you keep the contract running after the minimum period.  You can also benefit from cheaper call costs with a contract which is great if you will regularly be using your sat phone and unlike pre-paid airtime you are only paying for the minutes as and when you use them.  Detailed call records are available with post-paid airtime contracts and are sent with your invoice on a monthly basis – this is something that is not usually done with pre-paid airtime.

Pre-Paid Vouchers
Pre-paid vouchers have the benefit of no monthly fees or minimum contracts.  However, you are paying upfront for your minutes so make sure you choose a quantity of minutes most suited to your usage.  This is because with Thuraya and Iridium prepaid options all airtime vouchers have an expiry date or validity period which will start from the date you add them to your SIM card.  So if you don’t use your minutes, you lose them. This means you need to keep track of when airtime is expiring so that you don’t get caught out when you need to use your satellite phone although most providers will send you reminders before airtime expires.

Although it is possible to top-up your satellite airtime online, as most sat phones are used in remote locations it is useful to make arrangements with your service provider before you leave on remote trips as to how you will give payment for any top-ups you might require along the way.

With both post-paid and pre-paid satellite airtime you get free incoming calls and text messages making it easy to stay in contact with friends, family and colleagues back home via your sat phone.

The world of satellite airtime can be confusing with various tariffs, plan validities and units per minute available.  The main question to ask yourself when choosing your airtime is how often you will be using your sat phone. We are happy to discuss the best satellite airtime option for you, please contact us.

 

Post-Paid Contracts

Pre-Paid Vouchers

Advantages

Low cost/minute, no need for top-ups

Flexible, no contract or activation fees

Disadvantages

12 month minimum contract

Have to keep track of when minutes are expiring.  Lose unused minute if let them expire.

Networks available

Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya, Globalstar

Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya, Globalstar

Payment

Invoiced monthly

Payable in advance

Calls charged in

$/min

Units

Best for

Regular usage

Emergency or short-term use

 

Satellite Internet Access Using Satellite Terminals

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If you’re looking to purchase a satellite broadband terminal but don’t know where to start, our blog is here to help.  There are many factors to take into account when considering a satellite terminal.

 

The main use of a satellite terminal is to allow connection to the internet at broadband speeds from virtually anywhere in the world.  As most terminals are no larger than a laptop they can be transported easily and are therefore ideal for people requiring internet connectivity while travelling in remote locations. Some terminals offer voice capability through a telephone handset which means they can also be used to make satellite phone calls.

 

There are two main networks to choose from when considering a satellite terminal; Inmarsat BGAN and Thuraya. Most terminals currently available work on the near-global Inmarsat BGAN network and offer data rates of between 384 kbps to 492 kbps. Some terminals, such as the Thrane & Thrane Explorer 700, allow simultaneous multi-user access to the internet but most users will find the Thrane & Thrane 300 or Wideye Sabre 1 BGAN terminals more than adequate as they are small, light and cheaper than the multi-user models.

 

The Inmarsat BGAN network covers everywhere in the world from 72 degrees north to 72 degrees south. This means that the only place the network is not available is in the poles. If you are interested in purchasing a BGAN terminal please look at our Inmarsat BGAN terminal page to see the range of Inmarsat BGAN terminals currently available.

 

Inmarsat BGAN Explorer 700 Satellite Terminal

Inmarsat BGAN Explorer 700 Satellite Terminal

 

The alternative network to consider is Thuraya. Thuraya offer just one terminal, the Thuraya IP, which is a small and light terminal capable of a data rate of up to 444 kbps. The Thuraya network covers two thirds of the globe consisting of most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. If you are interested in purchasing a Thuraya terminal please look at our Thuraya terminal page to see more information on the Thuraya IP terminal.

 

If you’re still not sure about the Inmarsat and Thuraya coverage why not have a look at our coverage page to double check that the Inmarsat or Thuraya terminal will work where you are going.

 

Once you have chosen the satellite broadband terminal most suitable for your requirements you will need to buy airtime to use with the terminal. If you do not need global coverage and will be travelling within the Thuraya network coverage area you may find that some of their airtime options can work out better value for money than BGAN. Thuraya offer post-paid plans which include a set amount of data that you can transfer each month without incurring any additional charge. Once this amount is exceeded you will be charged at a standard rate for your usage.

 

If you need to use your terminal outside the Thuraya network area then an Inmarsat BGAN terminal is the best option for you. Although this can work out a little bit more expensive in some situations, you will have the peace of mind knowing that, unlike Thuraya IP, the terminal offers near-global coverage. With BGAN you have the option of buying post-paid or pre-paid airtime. Post-paid airtime involves a monthly fee and a minimum contract term and is suitable for someone who is going to use an unknown amount of airtime over a long period of time. Prepaid airtime is more suitable for short term users who know in advance the rough amount of data they will be transferring. Once this data has been transferred you will not be able to use your terminal until you top it up with extra credit.

 

Once you have made a decision on what you think best suits your needs then why not get in contact with us to ask any final questions.

Introducing the new Iridium Pre-Paid 750 Minute SIM Card

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Iridium have launched a new pre-paid voucher to cater for high-use seasonal customers. During the summer months sat phone usage increases as users in the tourist and leisure industries start to use sat phones for emergency purposes while partaking in outdoor activities. This voucher is ideal for these customers as it has a six month validity to cover satellite phone usage until the autumn.  Furthermore there are no coverage restrictions so users can take advantage of Iridium’s global coverage.

The Iridium 750 minute voucher offers a call cost of 63p per minute to landlines or mobile phones and a cost of just 31p per minute to Iridium phones - these prices are cheaper than the cost per minute with an Iridium contract without the 12 month commitment.

Iridium SIM Card

Iridium Pre-Paid SIM Card

Please note that you cannot add extra validity or credit to the 750 minute SIM card and it is only available on a new Iridium SIM card.

The Iridium pre-paid voucher is available to purchase online now for next day delivery from Global Telesat Communications.

How to choose a satellite phone

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Choosing a satellite phone for the first time can be confusing and considering the costs involved you need to make sure you choose the right option for your requirements.  The first thing to consider is where you will be using the phone.  Iridium is the only satellite phone network to offer global coverage whereas Thuraya and Inmarsat’s SPS (satellite phone service) can offer cheaper equipment and airtime alternatives if you remain in their coverage areas.  Visit our sat phone coverage maps page for details on coverage.

 

Once you have decided which network coverage is suitable, you need to decide whether to opt for a monthly contract or choose a pre-paid plan.  Although monthly contracts have a 12 month minimum period they can offer cheaper costs per minute if you are predicting frequent usage.  Pre-paid plans on the other hand are better for those carrying sat phones for emergency purposes only – you have the credit if you need to use it without the commitment to a 12 month contract.  Watch out for validity of pre-paid SIM cards and minutes though – Iridium and Thuraya impose a maximum lifespan on both pre-paid SIM cards and vouchers which means that even if you don’t use the minutes they won’t last forever.

 

Once you have decided which network provides the best coverage for your requirements, the final decision is which satellite phone handset to choose.  Iridium’s latest handset is the Iridium 9555 although handsets such as the Iridium 9505a are sometimes available secondhand.  The Inmarsat satellite phone service is a relatively new service and so only one handset has been produced which is the IsatPhone.  Thuraya offers three handsets which are the most similar to mobile phones in terms of features and size.  Prices for all sat phones at Global Telesat range from £420 – £999.

 

We are pleased to offer our customers advice on which option is best for them.  Please email us at info@globaltelesat.co.uk or phone us on 0207 969 2866 for help and advice.