New Delhi, July 9 -- State-run BSNL on Thursday announced the availability of a satellite phone priced at Rs 1,34,166 including all taxes, as it expands satellite communication services for defence, maritime, disaster response and other users operating in remote locations.

In a post on X, BSNL said the satellite phone supports voice calls and SMS services in areas where conventional mobile networks are unavailable. "When conventional mobile networks can't reach, the BSNL Satellite Phone keeps you connected," the company said, adding that the device is designed for challenging environments and is suitable for defence, maritime, disaster response, mining, remote operations and adventure travel.

The telecom company asked interested users to contact their nearest BSNL office for more details and also shared a mobile number. However, the number did not respond when contacted. A verified X user also commented on the post, saying, "As Always. No one is responding to the above Given Number." An email query sent to BSNL did not receive an immediate response.

BSNL has been offering voice call and SMS services through its Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) to the general public and private enterprises since January 1, 2018, according to an official statement issued in February.

The statement said the Department of Telecommunications had issued guidelines on June 12, 2017, requiring BSNL to complete the same customer verification process used for mobile connections. Subscribers are also required to provide details about the place, duration and purpose of satellite phone usage. It added that GSPS communications are encrypted.

BSNL's postpaid plans for government and commercial users are priced at Rs 3,500, Rs 5,835 and Rs 11,670 per month, with 16, 30 and 60 minutes of free talk time or SMS, respectively. For prepaid services, government entities pay Rs 3,500 per month with 20 free minutes or Rs 38,500 annually with 240 free minutes. Commercial entities can opt for Rs 5,835 per month with 30 free minutes or Rs 64,185 annually with 360 free minutes. Beyond the free quota, government users are charged Rs 18 per minute or SMS, while commercial users pay Rs 25. Top-up vouchers are available in denominations ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 10,000.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.