Telstra's Satellite Messaging Service.

[Garfly]

I guess this will be useful for anyone (with an eligible phone) flying remotely.

 

Satellite texting and satellite messages now available from Telstra

WWW.TELSTRA.COM.AU

---

Telstra Satellite Messaging complements Telstra mobile services by supporting satellite text messaging in most parts of mainland Australia.

 

[SGM]

Great minds think alike ; ) 
 

 

[Garfly]

Yes, same happened to me, I just noticed it working by accident and I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it (too bad I missed your post) so I went looking for more info.  Apple does have its own Satellite SMS system for its more recent phones but I saw somewhere that Telstra's system with its access to the Starlink system should work even better. (However, Apple also has its own Sat SOS system which is something else again.)  

I believe, also, that other service providers - and other devices - will soon be joining in with sat messaging.

And they say that sat voice comms on cell phones will eventually happen as well.

 

Edited Saturday at 09:14 AM by Garfly

[Love to fly]

I debated swapping to Telstra from Boost to take advantage of the satellite messaging. Decided to stay with the Zoleo. Gives me messaging and email over satellite. Also main feature for me, GPS tracking for those holding my flight note. Works out better and cheaper than changing. When apps like Life360 work over satellite that will be a game changer for me. 

[onetrack]

Boost, which was formerly a subsidiary of Telstra, is now owned 100% by Telstra, after Telstra bought out the co-founder, Peter Adderton and other shareholders, in Dec 2024, for $140M.

Former PM Paul Keating was a sizeable shareholder in Boost, and received a tidy windfall gain in the deal.

 

Boost always has been a "full service" partner of Telstra, and whatever services Telstra provide, should be automatically available with Boost - unlike a number of other cheap Telstra service provider partners, who only offer a limited Telstra service.

These cheaper Telstra service provider partners are often denied access to some Telstra services and cell towers - or if the system become overloaded, Telstra will shed these providers clients, in favour of Telstra clients.

 

QUOTE: "Telstra acquired the pre-paid mobile services provider Boost Mobile in December 2024 for approximately $140 million, consolidating the brand under Telstra's ownership and control.

Previously, Telstra was responsible for Boost Mobile's network access and most operations, while Boost focused on its branding and marketing.

The acquisition was a strategic move by Telstra to better manage its multi-brand strategy and retain a profitable customer base. 

Key Details of the Acquisition:

Date: The acquisition was announced on 2nd December 2024 and the deal was completed at the end of that month.
 

Price: The deal was valued at approximately $140 million. 
 

Reason: Telstra aimed to bring all aspects of the Boost Mobile business under one roof, allowing for better integration into its multi-brand strategy. 
 

Previous Relationship: Boost Mobile had been a partner of Telstra for over 13 years prior to the acquisition. 
 

Founders' Involvement: Boost Mobile co-founder Peter Adderton is no longer involved with the company, focusing on his US-based MobileX brand.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who co-founded the business, received $40M from the sale."

[SGM]

I am sure 99% of people realise this, but just in case,
- The Optus/Vodafone coverage is now combined - so it's a lot better than in the past.  There are times when my Avplan on Optus/Vodafone has got a connection, but another device using Telstra has not.
- if you see SOS on your phone, it means your carrier (or reseller) has no official coverage, but one of the other carriers does, so a call to 000 will go through, but not a call/sms to your significant other. 

Edited Sunday at 12:17 AM by SGM

[BurnieM]

12 minutes ago, SGM said:

I am sure 99% of people realise this, but just in case,
- The Optus/Vodafone coverage is now combined - so it's a lot better than in the past.  There are times when my Avplan on Optus/Vodafone has got a connection, but another device using Telstra has not.
- if you see SOS on your phone, it means your carrier (or reseller) has no official coverage, but one of the other carriers does, so a call to 000 will go through, but not a call/sms to your significant other. 

I am currently on Vodafone because I am mainly in metro areas and the pricing is better including international calls.

 

Yes, the combined VF/Optus coverage is better than the VF coverage previously but I think it is misleading to say it is better than Telstra.

In pretty much every area the Telstra coverage is better and if you regularly travel in rural areas you still want Telstra.

 

 

[SGM]

I would agree generally, Telstra (and hence Boost) has more coverage by about 1m sq km than the others

I didn't say Optus/Vodafone was better than Telstra, what I said was it's better than in the past, and there will be (probably a small number of) times when you can get Optus/Vodafone and not Telstra.  Sometimes, this is due to localised congestion on the Telstra network, and sometimes it's just coverage/propagation issues because they will often have differently located base stations/antennas, esp in regional towns.

Edited Sunday at 12:41 AM by SGM

[skippydiesel]

The list of  "compatible" phones is limited. Some iPhones & a couple of Samsung's😈

 

[Love to fly]

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

Boost, which was formerly a subsidiary of Telstra, is now owned 100% by Telstra, after Telstra bought out the co-founder, Peter Adderton and other shareholders, in Dec 2024, for $140M.

Former PM Paul Keating was a sizeable shareholder in Boost, and received a tidy windfall gain in the deal.

 

Boost always has been a "full service" partner of Telstra, and whatever services Telstra provide, should be automatically available with Boost - unlike a number of other cheap Telstra service provider partners, who only offer a limited Telstra service.

These cheaper Telstra service provider partners are often denied access to some Telstra services and cell towers - or if the system become overloaded, Telstra will shed these providers clients, in favour of Telstra clients.

 

QUOTE: "Telstra acquired the pre-paid mobile services provider Boost Mobile in December 2024 for approximately $140 million, consolidating the brand under Telstra's ownership and control.

Previously, Telstra was responsible for Boost Mobile's network access and most operations, while Boost focused on its branding and marketing.

The acquisition was a strategic move by Telstra to better manage its multi-brand strategy and retain a profitable customer base. 

Key Details of the Acquisition:

Date: The acquisition was announced on 2nd December 2024 and the deal was completed at the end of that month.
 

Price: The deal was valued at approximately $140 million. 
 

Reason: Telstra aimed to bring all aspects of the Boost Mobile business under one roof, allowing for better integration into its multi-brand strategy. 
 

Previous Relationship: Boost Mobile had been a partner of Telstra for over 13 years prior to the acquisition. 
 

Founders' Involvement: Boost Mobile co-founder Peter Adderton is no longer involved with the company, focusing on his US-based MobileX brand.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who co-founded the business, received $40M from the sale."

Nothing new here. But Boost doesn't have the satellite functionality. Also not just iPhone and Samsung but also Pixel 9s 

[Love to fly]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

The list of  "compatible" phones is limited. Some iPhones & a couple of Samsung's😈

 

Pixel 9 also

 

[skippydiesel]

What about Nokia?😈

[Arron25]

3 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

What about Nokia?😈

Who😂

Have been a force in the handset world since Google and Apple crucified them for going with Microsoft

[skippydiesel]

28 minutes ago, Arron25 said:

Who😂

Have been a force in the handset world since Google and Apple crucified them for going with Microsoft

Is this an obscure answer to my question or some tangential observation that has nothing to do the subject?😈

[onetrack]

I think Aaron meant to write, "haven't been a force in the handset world since Google and Apple crucified them for going with Microsoft".

 

In other words, Nokia no longer make handsets, haven't done for some years, and they concentrate on other areas of communication business today.

[pmccarthy]

I have been to Nokia, it is a town in Finland.

[BurnieM]

Finland, Finland, Finland ......

 

Yep, Nokia has been dead for yonks. Keep up.

 

[Arron25]

6 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Is this an obscure answer to my question or some tangential observation that has nothing to do the subject?😈

Sorry .. should have read 'HaveN'T been a force'  😵auto correct

[skippydiesel]

13 hours ago, onetrack said:

I think Aaron meant to write, "haven't been a force in the handset world since Google and Apple crucified them for going with Microsoft".

 

In other words, Nokia no longer make handsets, haven't done for some years, and they concentrate on other areas of communication business today.

Hmmm - didnt realise my Nokia phone (about 2-3 years old now) was actually a figment of my imagination.😈

[onetrack]

You'll have to use your imagination, the day you require some repair or service to the Nokia! Technology and IT products in particular, all change at warp speed, it's a struggle to keep up sometimes.

 

The constant changes to signal transmission modes and frequencies is one you need to be on top of. Wi-Fi standards are now up to Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), which offers significant speed increases, wider bandwidth (320 MHz channels), and enhanced reliability compared to previous standards. But they're already working on releasing Wi-Fi 8, which will change again for major improvements.

 

Communication companies keep adding frequencies - analogue, 2G and 3G are long gone, 5G is the standard now, even though most of us are still on 4G. No doubt 6G is on its way.

One day you'll suddenly find, the Nokia simply doesn't work any more! - because it doesn't have the inbuilt capabilities to handle the new frequencies and standards.

[spacesailor]

I keep having to replace  , my & wife's 'tablets ' & ' laptops ' due solely to " WiFi " being g out dated .

They are still usable with  a long " cord " to our modem .

spacesailor 

PS. : who is going to make a transmitter box , plugged into the " Ethernet port " on the nbn , to adapt the old  wireless ' receiver ",  ( in our tablets )  to the new frequency,  we could dispense with the " Wifi router " .

plug in the " new transmitter " . 

And 

be happy again .

 

Edited yesterday at 12:49 AM by spacesailor
PS added

[coljones]

10 hours ago, spacesailor said:

I keep having to replace  , my & wife's 'tablets ' & ' laptops ' due solely to " WiFi " being g out dated .

They are still usable with  a long " cord " to our modem .

spacesailor 

PS. : who is going to make a transmitter box , plugged into the " Ethernet port " on the nbn , to adapt the old  wireless ' receiver ",  ( in our tablets )  to the new frequency,  we could dispense with the " Wifi router " .

plug in the " new transmitter " . 

And 

be happy again .

 

I'm not sure what the issue is.  Most modern routers use both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz as their WiFi frequencies. (6Ghz is a new frequency on WiFi 7 - a new standard) your older tablets and phone should be capable of talking WiFi 5 or 6 on 2.4Ghz. 2.4 is the "old" frequency but still in use by a wide variety of "legacy", oldish and new devices.

 

If you are having problems connecting on 2.4Ghz it may be a problem with your router and it might need to be replaced.

 

Take your tablets and phones down to the local mall that offers free WiFi, if they connect and talk you have a problem with your router.

 

What is your router?

[Arron25]

On 25/08/2025 at 8:55 AM, skippydiesel said:

Hmmm - didn't realise my Nokia phone (about 2-3 years old now) was actually a figment of my imagination.😈

Badge engineering  🤫