Bhayandar: Fishermen will now be reachable even in the deep, as they now have an option in the form of satellite powered phone to keep them in touch with the terrestrial world-especially in case of emergencies. Officials from the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) displayed the gadget and explained the functions of its IsatPhone2 at the “Fishermen’s Conclave” organised by MP Rajan Vichare in Uttan on Saturday.
Having a price tag of Rs 72,000, the satellite phone will allow fishermen to stay connected up to 200 nautical miles from the shore without internet or tower connectivity. Apart from features like- text-to-email, web-messaging, e-compass, incoming and outgoing calling options, the Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled phone also boasts of a dedicated Save Our Souls (SoS) button to transmit location details to various agencies and listed contacts in case of emergency situations.
Officials from agencies including Fisheries, Customs, Maritime Board, Revenue and Police Department were present to address the grievances of fishermen and throw light on various schemes envisaged by the government for the welfare of the fishing community.