Kathmandu, Sept. 27 -- As the mobile phone network expands and it is possible to get a 4G signal atop Mt Everest, you might think the era of satellite phones has come to an end.
Think again. There are all kinds of reasons why satellite phones still come in handy in a ruggedly vertical country like Nepal, where there are still nooks and crannies that lack a mobile signal, or where satphones provide convenient data and voice connections during disasters.
During the war, Maoist guerrillas kept in touch with units across the country through satellite phones. Technology has advanced rapidly since then, and today's satphones are less bulky, cheaper and have surprisingly affordable service plans available locally.
But the latest, Thuraya X5-Tou...