A few limits, but satellite no pie in the sky

But Indigo Telecom Australia thinks satellite telephony still has a place in a vast and mostly empty continent.

The company’s backers have calculated that more than a million Australians either live outside the footprint of a conventional mobile phone network, or regularly work or play in the 72 per cent of the land mass with mobile coverage.

Key to Indigo’s pitch is that satellite comms isn’t what it used to be: a technology that was hampered by bulky handsets, echoing and stilted conversations, and hefty costs.

Rural Press spent a few days with Indigo’s standard handset, the Thuraya XT, and found that satellite telecommunications have definitely advanced, but also continue to carry some of the technology’s limitations.

The splash-, shock- and dust-resistant Thuraya XT couldn’t be described as svelte, but nor is it monstrous -about the same width as Telstra’s rugged “rural” phones, the 165i and T90, but about 10cm taller and 3-4mm deeper. Pocketable, if you have big pockets.

The body is robust, but without the tough-guy rubber design touches that some gadgets, including Telstra’s “tough” phones, use to signify toughness.

But in a sign that the Thuraya XT is indeed “toughened”, all the phone’s external ports, like the USB and battery charger connections, are covered with rubber seals.

The keyboard layout is standard-issue, and will be instantly recognisable to most mobile phone users - particularly those familiar with Nokia phones, which seem to have inspired many of the keyboard and menu conventions.

The only flaw with the keyboard is common to many of today’s mobiles: the keys are so small that big fingers will find it all too easy to hit multiple buttons.

The menu system is straightforward, and includes mobile phone basics like calendar and contact book, plus a GPS module.

Battery life is claimed to be up to 80 hours on standby and six hours talk-time.

In short, the Thuraya XT looks and works like a sturdy, basic mobile phone. So how well does it actually work as a communications device?

Remarkably well. Indigo’s claim that it has satellite latency sorted out is on the mark. A conversation with the Thuraya XT is comparable in clarity and lag to a long-distance standard mobile call.

Given the distances involved, that’s only a little short of miraculous.

But there are caveats, not so much with this device but with the technology itself.

Indigo is using a satellite positioned to provide coverage to Asia, which means that on the eastern seaboard of Australia it hangs low in the sky - a little above 20 degrees off the horizon.

Because satellite is a line-of-sight technology, mountains, timber, buildings or other obstructions that obscure the horizon up to this angle can completely block access.

That’s not a major flaw, but should be taken into consideration if your primary use will be in very hilly or forested country.

Move west to WA, further underneath the satellite, and this impediment largely disappears.

For all users, a larger issue is the Thuraya’s inability to communicate with its satellite in moderate to heavy cloud. That is particularly the case in eastern Australia, where the angle effectively increases the blocking effect of cloud.

Again, it’s not a reason not to buy the device, just a limitation to be aware of.

At a cost of $499 if bought through the Federal Government’s Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme, and call costs of $1.30 a minute to any phone, Indigo’s Thuraya XT deserves consideration as the mobile you use when you can’t use a mobile.

(For users who work in and out of the terrestrial mobile network, Indigo also offers the Thuraya SG, a dual satellite-SIM device that can switch between either system.)

Indigo’s handsets can be bought directly from the company by calling 1800 848 729. A retailer network is expected to be announced soon.

Full handset specifications are available at www.indigotelecom.com.au