Satphones go live in Afghanistan


Satellite phone service has now been made available in the war-torn country Afghanistan

By Amabelle Layug
CNN Hong Kong

HONG KONG, China -- The world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, had one. Now a satellite phone is within the grasp of all Afghans -- if they can pay the bill.

Bermuda-based Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. has rolled out satellite phone service throughout central Asia, including Afghanistan.

Globalstar, which runs 48 satellites and operates "satphones" in 110 countries, is offering the service through its Russian subsidiary, GlobalTel.

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The Globalstar service is being used by workers in the aftermath of the American-led war on terror. The company says international aid organizations are using it to coordinate medical relief and recovery operations in the region.

Media organizations have also been using the service in central Asia. The international roaming of satphones means customers from North America and Europe can travel to central Asia and use the phones immediately.

The phones can send data as well as voice calls.

"We have already received calls from users from as far away as western Mongolia, telling us how amazed they are by the voice quality of our service," said Globalstar Chairman Olof Lundberg.

The company started promoting the service in late December and says it is first time many parts of central Asia have had clear wireless service.

To roll out the service, GlobalTel extended its service coverage from western and central Russia.

Globalstar has been negotiating with its creditors on a bankruptcy reorganization and was forced to cut its work force 70 percent in 2001.