Chances are, you’re ready to hit the road but worried about missing important emails and other spoils that come with an internet connection. And that’s totally understandable. Being in the middle of nowhere without some form of communication with the rest of the world can be wearisome. However, having a reliable internet connection in rural Australia does not come cheap. You have to acquire expensive equipment and pay absurd amounts of money for data. Here are some of the portable satellite internet devices available in Australia.
Sat Sleeve
The Sat Sleeve is a small device that transforms your smartphone to a satellite phone. It allows you to interact with webpages and send text emails when operating outside mobile coverage, making it one of the most popular options for Australian travellers. And, it is not as power-hungry as a typical PC or laptop. That alone, makes it perfect for off-grid situations.
You can hire the device, depending on how long you intend to stay on your trip, and use data from Pivotel and Octus. But just like any other satellite internet carrier out there, expect to pay premium prices per Mb of data.
Kymeta Antena
The Kymeta antenna is a bigger, more powerful alternative to the Sat Sleeve that comes with a flat panel design. The device can be mounted just about anywhere. And it is electronically scannable, thanks to the groundbreaking research that went into producing its metamaterial parts.
The only problem with this antenna is its cost. Currently, it is retailing at $30,000, which is obviously out of range for most people. But, they compensate that by charging crazy cheap data prices compared to their competitors, with one GB of data going for $30. That’s way cheaper than most carries who use the Sat Sleeve as their primary device.