Thuraya replacement

Heard part of an interview on ABC, Ivan, with CEO of Pivotel yesterday. He said they have 10K customers that they are attempting to supply an alternate handset for. They currently only have a few, might have said 1200 phones available at present? And awaiting supply of the remainder.
Don’t recall if he mentioned what system would be used? Iridium or Inmarsat?

Bob

Excerpt from email received from Pivotel about their 'alternative offers'.

Pivotel Thuraya update and offers announcement.
We refer you to our notice on Wednesday the 8th of May 2024 regarding the sustained Force Majeure event that prevents Thuraya from providing services in Australia, and in turn means your Thuraya phone or data terminal is unable to be used in Australia. We have suspended your service and temporarily migrated it to a $0 service plan so your Pivotel mobile number(s) can be reserved at no cost to you.

In our notice we advised you that we are preparing a selection of special offers for you to move to another Pivotel satellite phone service. We’re now pleased to be able to confirm the offers available to you.

We expect the online systems to be in place to enable you to apply for your replacement service no later than the close of business on Wednesday the 15th of May 2024.

Our offer for you to move to the Inmarsat Satellite Phone Service
The Inmarsat satellite phone service uses a fleet of geostationary satellites. Service in Australia is provided from a geostationary satellite at 143.5 degrees east, northeast of Australia. Inmarsat also operates a compatible satellite at 83.8 degrees east, northwest of Australia.

When you return your working Thuraya phone, you can buy an Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 that operates on the Inmarsat satellite network for just $1,099.00. That’s a $500.00 saving on the usual price of $1,599.00.

We will also offer you a special rate on your Inmarsat service plan for 12 months from when you activate your service transfer. You’ll pay just $30 per month for the first 12 months – after that your service will move to our standard Isat 43 plan – that’s a saving of $156.00 over 12 months.

If you bought your Thuraya phone from Pivotel, or a Dealer who sourced your phone from Pivotel, in the 3 years prior to the Force Majeure event (on or after 15/04/2021), and you return it in working order with Proof of Purchase, you will be eligible for a further discount on your Iridium handset depending on the age of your Thuraya handset.

To be eligible for this offer you must return your Thuraya phone in working order and connect on the Isat Special Plan for a Minimum 12 Month Term. To qualify for the additional discount for a phone less than 3 years old you will need to provide proof of purchase.

Our offer for you to move to the Iridium Satellite Phone Service
The Iridium Satellite Phone Service uses a fleet of 66 satellites that operate in a polar Low Earth Orbit for maximum resilience.

When you return your working Thuraya phone, you can buy an Iridium 9555 that operates on the Iridium satellite network for just $1,299.00. That’s a $800.00 saving on the usual price of $2,099.00.

You also have the option to choose the Iridium GO! for just $1,249.00. That’s a $450.00 saving on the usual price of $1,699.00.

We will also offer you a special rate on your Iridium service for 12 months from when you activate your service transfer. You’ll pay just $40 per month for the first 12 months – after that your service will move to our standard Pivot 65 plan – that’s a saving of $300.00 over 12 months.

If you bought your Thuraya phone from Pivotel, or a Dealer who sourced your phone from Pivotel, in the 3 years prior to the Force Majeure event (on or after 15/04/2021), and you return it in working order with Proof of Purchase, you will be eligible for a further discount on your Iridium handset depending on the age of your Thuraya handset.

Click here to see a full breakdown of the further discounts available.

To be eligible for this offer you must return your Thuraya phone in working order and connect on the Iridium Special Plan for a Minimum 12 Month Term. To qualify for additional discount for a phone less than 3 years old you will need to provide proof of purchase.

Hardware Refunds
If you choose not to take up one of the special offers, and you purchased your Thuraya phone from Pivotel, or a Dealer who sourced your phone from Pivotel in the two years prior to the Force Majeure event, you can apply for a full or partial refund as follows:

Handset Purchased Date Refund Value
After 16/10/2023 100% of RRP or price paid. Whichever is lower.
16/04/2023 – 15/10/2023 75% of RRP or price paid. Whichever is lower.
16/04/2022 – 15/04/2023 50% of RRP or price paid. Whichever is lower.

To qualify for a refund your hardware must have been supplied by Pivotel, or a dealer who sourced your hardware from Pivotel. You will need to return your phone in working order and provide proof of purchase from Pivotel or a Pivotel Dealer.

Service Refund
If you have a credit balance in your account, and you choose not to take up an alternative service from Pivotel, we will arrange a refund for you. If you pay by direct debit, we will process the refund to the Credit Card or Bank Account you use for Direct Debit. If we are unable to process a refund this way, we will contact you and advise you of the steps to follow to set up your bank account or credit card details.

If you are eligible, you will receive your refund, or we will contact you about your refund within 60 days or sooner. You don’t have to do anything now.

What happens next?
While we have been working on these special offers, we have also been busy implementing the systems needed to enable you to apply to transfer your Pivotel Thuraya service and number to a replacement service on another satellite network.

We expect the online systems to be in place to enable you to apply for your replacement service no later than the close of business on Wednesday the 15th of May 2024.

For you to take up your offer in the online application portal you will need the login credentials for your Pivotel Account. While you wait for the offers and access to the online application portal, we recommend you check your login access.
Click here to go to Pivotel Selfcare and enter your Account Number and password to check you can login.
Your Account Number is at the top of this email, and can also be found on your Pivotel monthly invoice.
If you don’t know your password, or you forgot your password, click the Forgot Password link, enter your Account Number, and click continue. You will be sent a link by email to set a new password.
This is a major unplanned event and is impacting on call answering times in the Pivotel Customer Care team.

We will keep the Pivotel Thuraya FAQ page up to date and we request you check that page for current information.

Kind Regards,

Pivotel Satellite Customer Care

Hi Cuppa,

That sounds to me like Thuraya will not be back on line in Australia in the near or even medium future. An expensive exercise for both the individual and the company.

Macca.

Well I'm screwed as I purchased my phone through Optus which has since dropped the service. We then switched to Pivotel for the service

I really hope the scum who conduct class actions to line their own pockets and stuff up society get their just rewards.

Do you really expect anyone to be able to guarantee that anything and everything will perform impeccably forever.

Also, didn't I see somewhere that the equipment had passed it's expected life?

Get real regarding any class action. From another forum:

"Thuraya has advised Pivotel that they have suffered a sustained Force Majeure Event which prevents services being delivered in Australia. Unfortunately, this means services are no longer available and are unable to be recovered in the foreseeable future. Please visit:https://www.pivotel.com.au/thuraya-network-closure"

As soon as Force Majeure comes into play, you can forget any compensation. Copy and paste that link into a browser and get the story straight from Pivotel.

I would wonder if Force Majeure is applicable in this case. Mostly it is invoked for weather events, war , riots etc.

Chers
Jim

Jim, I'm glad you included the word "mostly." There are certainly many other factors that come into play, particularly in international instances. If you read through the page Force majeure you will get a fuller picture of what is involved. In particular, look at the paragraph above the heading Purpose.

Considering the Satellite has lasted longer than it’s expected life span, I am not sure any class action “will have much legs”.

Macca.

Should they have been selling plans for a service that's past it's use by date? A bit like selling mouldy bread.

Warren

I have had Inmarsat for around 14 and never ever been on a contract, only prepaid and as you go.

The good thing with Inmarsat is you do not lose your number if you do not have credit on your phone, as I have not had any credit for at least 6 years, but you can still use the phone to text it and most importantly you can dial 000 with no credit in the event of an emergency.

There must be lots of people like me that only use and take the Satphone when going remote, so why pay a monthly fee if you are not using it.

Never sat on my dash. Now it's sitting at home as there is no use for it

How does an iPhone 14 work for emergency calls?

iPhone models 14 and above use the satellite network when there is no service for connection to emergency services and you can setup emergency contacts. More info published by Apple Here

iPhone is the same price as a satphone and it is emergency msg only and starlink is going to be way to costly.

I can see how Starlink is the best option for longer term life on the road, particularly if you are working and costs defrayed against income. Similarly for people who have as their home service. Even if you have a decent broadband service at home, if I have my numbers correct it's $170pm for a home and 'mobile' connection, when you add up the cost of a fixed broadband connection of say 50mbps at close to $100pm and an Iridium plan at $65pm plus $2K for hardware and expensive calls, Starlink is more than competitive if you want an ongoing service, if you only need a satellite connection for a few months then not so much.

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David/Michelle said :
"iPhone models 14 and above use the satellite network when there is no service for connection to emergency services and you can setup emergency contacts. "

As I understand it that only provides text contact, not voice. However, even that is better than nothing.
As Roz is about to upgrade to an iPhone 15 for photography reasons that may be adequate for us to dump the Iridium and its hefty monthly fee.

Samsung is indicating that they will be have similar ability in their next model release. They aslo indicate that they will be looking at provided other basic servcies via satellite but don't indicate what the capability migh be but as they are apparently using the same modem as Google will most likely be similar to what the google phones will have.

" the company said it simulated the 5G satellite communication via an Exynos Modem 5300, " which is reportedly used in the Google Pixel 7 phone. "

Allan B From what I read you can only use it for emergency not for normal coms

"With iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you can use a satellite connection when you have no mobile and Wi-Fi coverage to text the emergency services, request roadside assistance and share your location."

You cant just send a text

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Yes Ivan, that is what I said……"As I understand it that only provides text contact, not voice." and only to emergency services, presumably 000.

I also saw an Apple expression that this feature is only "available free for 2 years from purchase" (of the phone). No further details so I don't know what happens after "2 years".

My Starlink is currently working OK here in S/W of WA.

I ended up buying a ZOLEO. We only ever sent messages with the Thuralya anyway

.
Geez Ivan, I thought maybe Zoleo maybe the answer, but at $32/month (and upwards) for just messages I may as well stick to my Iridium phone at $45. To be able to talk to emergency services seems a great advantage, especially if it is a medical emergency. Only needed it once, for an incoming emergency, but it was a blessing.

Could be time to just get an Aviation band VHF handheld.

Why would I want to talk to pilots? lol

Their normally bored silly and could do with a laugh.

Allan B: How much is an Iridium phone? How many calls and messages do you get in that $45?
I don't have a phone so we had to start from scratch. $345 to buy and $32 a month when we use it. $3.95 a month when we don't, to keep the number. We never used the voice function on the Thurayla because it was shit. And it isn't only text. There are other functions as well

> Could be time to just get an Aviation band VHF handheld.

Do you need a license to use these? I looked and it was clear as mud - seems like you need a license if you're in a plane but I couldn't tell if you needed one on the ground.

Yes they are restricted frequencies and reasonably short range.
However the last time I held a restricted radio lisense, or sat for it at least the rules stated that in an emergency situation it is legal for any person to use any radio equipment available, I can't see that having changed.
There wouldn't be many places in Australia where an aircraft wouldn't be in line of sight once or twice a day.
Still not a patch on our thuraya, we used it almost every day, my other half can tolerate extended desert trips if she can have regular half hour chats to our children.

.
Hi Ivan, you asked…. "How much is an Iridium phone?" Currently about $2k but I paid less several years ago. Even less again for the previous second-hand one.
And…. "How many calls and messages do you get in that $45?" I don't think there is anything rolled into that $45 but that is not a concern for me as it would only be used in an extreme emergency where cost of operation is not a concern. I'm not a gambler!

Ivan,

Used to get $20 worth of free calls/month with Telstra Iridium, but think they’ve wiped that when they dropped monthly charge to $45. Don’t know about the later phones, but the old 9505A models were laborious to send a text,

Here’s a page from the Satphone Shop. Prices haven’t changed much in 25-30 years but usefulness of phones would have improved.



Bob

Yes Allan, I think some people are confusing what is possible with a mobile phone, and relating that to a Satellite phone. I tried exactly what you tried with my Iridium SatPhone with the same result as you. It does not work.

Macca.