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To: Earlie who wrote (58325)	1/16/2001 5:57:11 PM
From: oldirtybastard	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

While there are plenty of folks who do not own telephones, those that can afford them already own many of them. Your stats are a red herring. And those that don't own phones but who also can neither read nor count, nor know anyone outside their village they would like to call, are probably a fairly large group as well and going to stay that way for many years, especially since there is not much outside economic or political incentive to change this.

To: Earlie who wrote (58325)	1/16/2001 6:46:39 PM
From: Ilaine	Respond to of 436258

This isn't about nifty gadgets for the well-heeled. Sat phones are the ONLY provider for places where there are no land lines and no cell phone towers. Same thing for satellite internet. The ordinary person in the Third World won't be able to afford this in the foreseeable future - but these things will be installed in hospitals and schools. Telesat is putting broadband satellite internet into rural Canadian schools - the government is footing the bill. And of course businesses need this, too. I think these regional satellite communications providers are going to make it, unlike the global systems like Globalstar and Iridium. For example, Thuraya, a UAE company, is providing sat phone service all over the Middle East, and, through Inmarsat, satellite internet. thuraya.com A similar company is Indosat in Indonesia. indosat.net.id

To: Earlie who wrote (58325)	1/16/2001 7:03:51 PM
From: Ilaine	Respond to of 436258

Inmarsat phones deployed in disaster struck El Salvador TSF arrive in Central America with 17 mini-M and one GAN terminal to restore emergency communications after earthquake hits the region Inmarsat mini-M satellite phones are to be used to restore emergency communications in El Salvador following Saturday’s mudslides that severely damaged the existing terrestrial communication networks following a major earthquake in the region. Most areas of the country are still without a working terrestrial or mobile telephone network which is delaying the start of co-ordinated rescue efforts. The French non-governmental organisation (NGO), Telecoms Sans Frontières (TSF) was one of the first aid organisations to reach the disaster area flying into the capital, San Salvador. Inmarsat Ltd, the global mobile satellite communications company, has supported TSF since May 2000. TSF has been asked by the El Salvadorian government to provide communications at essential sites including the airport and government offices. At present TSF members are liasing with the authorities on how to get the greatest benefit from the satellite phones. Seventeen Inmarsat mini-M phones and a Global Area Network (GAN) terminal will be made available to the local population and to the regional authorities. The Inmarsat satellite phone facilities were used to co-ordinate the relief efforts by voice and e-mail. Stephen Rogers, Inmarsat’s Director of Marketing Communications said: “The Inmarsat satellite phones often form the only reliable line of communication in a disaster region like El Salvador. They provide a valuable lifeline for the many people who would otherwise be unable to contact relatives, friends and loved ones at an extremely depressing time.” Throughout the next few days TSF will travel around El Salvador to provide the satellite phones to thousands of inhabitants who will have already been without lines of communication for several days to call friends and relatives to let them know they were safe. Jean-Francois Cazanave, President of TSF adds: “Satellite communication is the only solution in areas where the existing infrastructure or terrestrial communications networks, both fixed line and mobile, have been destroyed. The mini-M phones that Inmarsat provide us with a reliable way of making voice calls and sending e-mails.” inmarsat.com