Optus connects you off the beaten track

Optus is providing Australians an easier path to connectivity in remote and isolated regions by offering satellite sleeves – which transform a range of compatible smartphones into a satellite phone – at Optus stores on a 24-month payment plan or for outright purchase.

The Optus Thuraya SatSleeve was previously only available online or through an external dealer network for outright purchase. The SatSleeve works with compatible Android and non-Android smartphones and will be now stocked in selected stores across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, with more stores to follow in coming months.

Steve Long, Director of Local Markets at Optus, said the SatSleeve represented a fantastic solution for customers travelling in Australia, whether it’s sight-seeing in Kakadu, The Kimberley or the Cape York Peninsula.

“With the SatSleeve, Optus customers no longer need to rely on being within close proximity to a mobile base station for coverage. As long as they have a SatSleeve and a direct line of sight to the sky, they can make calls, send SMS or check their emails across Australia,”

“With our 4G mobile network expanding rapidly, we know this is a product that isn’t necessary for most people. But for fly-in fly-out workers in mining or gas exploration locations, to grey nomads and tourists traversing our expansive country, the SatSleeve provides coverage to even the most isolated parts of Australia,” Mr Long said

“By rolling out the Optus SatSleeve to our retail stores and providing a pay-over-time option, we are hoping to make mobile connectivity in remote locations easier and more accessible than ever before.”

Mr Long said satellite phone technology and plan pricing has come a long way in recent years, providing added flexibility for customers who want to bring their own device.

“Traditionally, satellite phones have been a bulky standalone handset which meant customers often had to carry two phones – their personal phone and their sat phone. With Optus’ SatSleeve, compatible devices can simply click into the sleeve and continue to work as they normally would,”

“That means no duplicating contacts, no coverage concerns, and all the convenience of having photos and other data stored in one single handset,” Mr Long said.

The SatSleeve creates a Wi-Fi signal to connect with the smartphone and is controlled through a SatSleeve Hotspot app. Once the device and sleeve are connected, if users are out of mobile range, incoming calls can be diverted to the satellite phone free of charge for existing Optus mobile customers.

Customers can also make outgoing calls or send SMS via their smartphone using the satellite connection.