MEBOURNE, Australia-The Australian government has kicked off its satellite phone subsidy scheme in response to the telecommunications service inquiry, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Senator Richard Alston announced.
Australians living in rural or remote areas of the country “beyond terrestrial mobile-phone coverage” are eligible to apply for a one-off grant to buy a satellite phone for any mobile satellite system. The subsidy gives users a saving of up to half the cost of a satellite mobile handset with financial assistance capped at A$1,100 (US$595).
To be eligible, people must live outside terrestrial CDMA or GSM mobile coverage or in areas that are unlikely to have the digital service in the near future. Community groups, small businesses and emergency services can apply for two subsidies.
