Thuraya SatPhone Service
 

I am on the market for a satphone to be used mainly for the periodic (but sporadic) call-in and for any emergency while overlanding between Chad and Europe. I am extremely familiar with the Iridium system (used it while sailing across the Atlantic), but I have been told that for my current projects, Thuraya is preferable. I did some research on the net on the Thuraya and discover a very wide range of service providers, plan types and costs. I wonder if there is any words of advise on this topic out there....

Thx in advance.

Jorge
Ndjamena, Chad

Jorge,
Have a look at www.sattrans.com.
Good service, very reliable, refill on line if needed.

desert phantom

Jorge,

It depends on what you want to know,
Thuraya has a quit difficult (well, I found it difficult) system of scratch cards, prepaid accounts, supersims, online services etc.
I guess if you look into it very deep you can find the things you want (Maybe things changed since I looked into it two years ago, at least their coverage is increased).

But one of the reasons we choosed it :
You can put your own gsm-sim-card into it !!!
It depends on which provider you use and your account-type (no prepaid) but some of the big companies have got a roaming deal with Thuraya.
When we need the satphone I just put my normal gsm-sim-card into it and start calling, sending or recieving sms-messages!!
I even have got my normal phonenumber!!

I have a T-mobile account and they bill the call just as every other call from/to a foreign country.
Very easy, no scrath cards and or units you have to use before the card gets expired etc.

__________________________
bart

http://www.woestijnzand.nl

[This message has been edited by Sophie&Bart (edited 28 February 2006).]

Hi Jorge,
I've always used the sim card + pay as you go scracth card system. I've bought sim cards and scracth cards on the main street in Ndjamena.

I've started sharing a sim card with another regular Thuraya user to save on the sims that expire....

Richard

Thx to you all. Most helpful info. Looking to Sattrans, as their rates seem to be good.

Jorge
Ndjamena, Chad