THEY'RE one of only four licenced mobile carriers in Australia, and Pivotel Group is taking on the likes of telco giants Telstra, Optus and Vodafone with an industry-first strategic plan to improve and increase coverage in regional and remote areas.
The Gold Coast-based company has launched a hybrid satellite and mobile phone plan called 'The Big Bundle' which is aimed at the so-called 'grey nomads' to keep in touch with family and friends, along with people working in remote areas such as outback farms and mine sites.
The plan is designed to bring historically more expensive satellite phone costs in line with contemporary mobile phone plans. Similar to capped mobile phone plans, the service offers an included satellite bundle and unlimited voice and SMS for $99 a month.
Pivotel Group CEO Peter Bolger says the new system is designed to help Australians stay in touch while on the road, including many of the notorious black spot areas without the fear of 'satellite bill shock' with the simplicity of a single account.
"Satellite phones have most commonly been used for emergency calls only as the cost per minute to talk is generally considered high compared to what we are used to with current mobile phone plans," Bolger says.
"For the first time in the satellite communications industry, we have engineered a new way to deliver a complete coverage solution."
The company partnered with UAE-based satellite company Thuraya to deliver the coverage which adds satellite connectivity and works outside mobile coverage areas using a smartphone when accompanied by Pivotel's SatSleeve.
The SatSleeve is a device that attaches to smartphones, and transforms a regular phone into a satellite phone without the need for a separate satellite phone.
Business News Australia spoke with Peter Bolger about how sales are tracking with The Big Bundle and his strategy behind taking on the telco industry's big players.
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