cell service in Iraq or A-Stan?

[history nut]

Not sure if this is a general forum or strictly an equipment and gear question...

Is there anyone currently in Iraq or Afghanistan, or someone who has recently returned, that could point me in the right direction for a GOOD (no scams) international cell phone rental company?

I've searched the net and found a couple that cross referenced pretty well with other sources, but I thought I'd ask here for some real experiences - good and bad.

My backup plan is to go with Sprint (my current wireless provider) but I would have to use my existing phone number on one of their GSM phones. I don't want to do this as I don't want to get work calls when I'm overseas. I can't believe they won't/can't assign temporary numbers, but they contend that they don't. They also cannot guarantee that the call waiting feature will work so I'm trying to stay away from using my existing number.

I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a good voice phone company.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Laworkerbee]

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11573605/Thuraya_Satellite_Mobile_Phone.jpg

http://www.thuraya.com/

[Argyll]

Buy a local phone.......Iraqna has good coverage, and is reasonably cheap.......Thuraya above is not.

[p$ycho+log!cal]

u'll need a GSM cell phone
which use tribande and allow u to go on worldwide sattelite.
go to a local roger-wireless or what ever shop and ask them a GSM PHONE

[history nut]

Thanks for the prompt replies. Hope to get more info. Yes GSM is the way to go, but I don't want to buy as I'll only need it for a couple weeks.

Argyll - I PM'd you.

[vinny_121_ND]

Pretty sure I remembered not too long ago in afghanistan, can't remember which country, but troops were making cell phone calls back home, and terrorists traced the numbers in pakistan, and some pretty nasty crank calls happened as a result to troopers' families. Just as a heads up before you start making calls that the enemy can trace.

[Beowulf]

Get a good job and they'll give you a satphone....harrrr

[zonk]

they sell cell phones in iraq, a few girls in my platoon got them...I never saw a male with one. they worked great but were a bit overpriced. 20 dollars for a 15 minute phone card.

[David]

you had girls in your platoon? haha...

[Sloppy Joe2]

you had girls in your platoon? haha... they do exist in the army you know.

my guys just bought them from the locals are terps hooked it up!

[history nut]

Thanks everyone - good info all around. I've got a couple leads to run down.

[Flyboy]

I haven't been to Iraq but I've been to Afghanistan. It's basically the same as Iraq though. Plently of ways to get cell phones on base. Either the SIM card itself or both. I never had the urge to get one since we were only there for 6 months.

[zonk]

you had girls in your platoon? haha...


yeah, and it's a pain in the ass to work with them. seems like wherever they are there's drama and 95% of them are just plain lazy.

[Beowulf]

you had girls in your platoon? haha...


Yeah you got to hang out with all dudes.....sweet!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D6Urc8i7NA

[Sabre]

Pretty sure I remembered not too long ago in afghanistan, can't remember which country, but troops were making cell phone calls back home, and terrorists traced the numbers in pakistan, and some pretty nasty crank calls happened as a result to troopers' families. Just as a heads up before you start making calls that the enemy can trace.

That's true. There's a reason why squaddies are told not to take a mobile into theatre.

The cell network in Afghanistan uses a very basic encription that pretty much anyone with some kit from Currys (or radio shack for you septics) could tap into. With a bit more kit and know how, you can do a hell of a lot more with a mobile that's both frightening and a massive security risk.

It is VERY inadvisable to use a cell/mobile phone in Afghanistan for any passage of information. As Beo says, if your employer is worth his salt, there should be at least one sat phone open for you to use.

Don't want to pry, but what do you need it for? If you just want a means of communication home, then a central sat phone now and again would suffice (or a secure internet connection).

[history nut]

While my trip is not "a secret" I can't comment further about it at this time as there are still some details pending. I'm not being purposely vague or coy - the people I'm going with need to release info on their timeline.

It's not work related so my employer has nothing to do with it. I'll have internet connections on bases so I'll be able to email along the way.

My concern is, frankly, keeping peace at home with the wife and kids (who are allowing me to make this jaunt) so that IF they need to reach me they can via voice or text messaging and vice versa. I'm sure I'll have access to a sat phone now and again, but that doesn't buy peace of mind with the family right now.

Sprint, my current wireless provider, does not offer text messaging in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as I mentioned earlier requires me to use my current number which I'd rather not do (because it is my work number and I don't need people calling me about work when I'm 9000 miles away).

I've found several companies (like Range Roamer) who seem to satisfy my requirements, but wanted to get people's experiences with providers before I settle for what Sprint can offer.

[EsoognomEhT]

That's true. There's a reason why squaddies are told not to take a mobile into theatre.

The cell network in Afghanistan uses a very basic encription that pretty much anyone with some kit from Currys (or radio shack for you septics) could tap into. With a bit more kit and know how, you can do a hell of a lot more with a mobile that's both frightening and a massive security risk.

It is VERY inadvisable to use a cell/mobile phone in Afghanistan for any passage of information. As Beo says, if your employer is worth his salt, there should be at least one sat phone open for you to use.

Don't want to pry, but what do you need it for? If you just want a means of communication home, then a central sat phone now and again would suffice (or a secure internet connection).

£1000 fine if caught using your phone so I'm told :o

[Argyll]

Then don't get caught!!

[Sabre]

My concern is, frankly, keeping peace at home with the wife and kids (who are allowing me to make this jaunt) so that IF they need to reach me they can via voice or text messaging and vice versa. I'm sure I'll have access to a sat phone now and again, but that doesn't buy peace of mind with the family right now.

Well, it's up to you but a number of relatives of UK personnel have received phone calls and messages from the Taliban after they've listened in on calls.

Whether you think it's better to have easy, insecure voice comms with home and risk Terry ringing up your wife or child and telling them that they've killed you, or whether you tell your wife that unfortunately you are going to a troubled county and may be out of touch for some time but that no news is good news....again, it's up to you.

@TheMong: It probably is, but why even risk it? There are loads of ways of keeping in touch over there. So what if you can't talk to your wife for two weeks, you're in a bloody warzone! Personally after hearing what can be done with mobiles I'll take the battery and sim card out, bag them all up separately and stow them away after making the last UK call at Brize, and only take them out again when back on the ground in the UK.

I don't want the worry of harassing calls on my mind when I'm out there.

[Sloppy Joe2]

Well, it's up to you but a number of relatives of UK personnel have received phone calls and messages from the Taliban after they've listened in on calls.

Whether you think it's better to have easy, insecure voice comms with home and risk Terry ringing up your wife or child and telling them that they've killed you, or whether you tell your wife that unfortunately you are going to a troubled county and may be out of touch for some time but that no news is good news....again, it's up to you.

@TheMong: It probably is, but why even risk it? There are loads of ways of keeping in touch over there. So what if you can't talk to your wife for two weeks, you're in a bloody warzone! Personally after hearing what can be done with mobiles I'll take the battery and sim card out, bag them all up separately and stow them away after making the last UK call at Brize, and only take them out again when back on the ground in the UK.

I don't want the worry of harassing calls on my mind when I'm out there. this is a much larger problem then it is given credit, had three guys in my unit killed because AIF was tracking them off of a cell-phone one of them was carrying. there are secure lines on all major FOB's and depending on what you are doing and how much sleep you think you need, it shouldnt be a problem

[Beowulf]

this is a much larger problem then it is given credit, had three guys in my unit killed because AIF was tracking them off of a cell-phone one of them was carrying. there are secure lines on all major FOB's and depending on what you are doing and how much sleep you think you need, it shouldnt be a problem

Word.


Just show your wife a bunch of WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Falklands etc movies and then tell her how great it is that you'll be able to email frequently.....

or if you really need to...buy a satphone. They aren't that expensive and you can sell minutes to your friends to help cover the cost.

In my experience calling home frequently is just a distraction, forget about that and focus on the task at hand. Just call home every once in a while. The guys that called home all the time were too busy worrying about all kinds of other things, and excessive cares bring hesitation and fear.

[zonk]

we had one of the ln's working on taji try to bring ina cell phone that had been packed with explosives...the guy worked in the busiest dvd shop on camp taji. this place easily served over a thousand people a day..imagine if the bomb dog hadn't caught it

[Beowulf]

There are lots of interesting things that can be done with a cell phone, regardless of whether it's turned on or off.

[history nut]

I've found two local companies that rent quality satellite phones at reasonable rates and will be using one of them if I decide to take a phone on the trip.

Thanks to everyone for the help and information.

[Sabre]

No problem mate, that seems like a wise choice. Good luck.


There are lots of interesting things that can be done with a cell phone, regardless of whether it's turned on or off.

Exactly. No where near the risk.

[history nut]

Thanks for the well wishes - will post photos from trip upon my return.

[James]

Roshan has decent coverage in A'Stan. If it's just for calling home, get Skype on your laptop.

[Spartan USA]

Hey one thing I didn't see anyone mention is if you bring your own GSM phone, it must be unlocked otherwise it will not work with any other providers, other than the company who's service the phone was with originally.

[Sniffit]

Hey one thing I didn't see anyone mention is if you bring your own GSM phone, it must be unlocked otherwise it will not work with any other providers, other than the company who's service the phone was with originally.

No, it doesn't. It's called roaming.

[Kap]

No, it doesn't. It's called roaming.


Yeah, unless if you want to pay hundreds of dollars to make a roaming phone call.

I went to Canada for 5 days back in January and my cell phone company switched over to Rogers Wireless as soon as I hit the border and by the time I got back, I only made 3 phone calls each only a few minutes, my phone bill was over 160 bucks.

Roaming will kill you.

[I can't think of a name]

this is a much larger problem then it is given credit, had three guys in my unit killed because AIF was tracking them off of a cell-phone one of them was carrying. there are secure lines on all major FOB's and depending on what you are doing and how much sleep you think you need, it shouldnt be a problem

3 guys killed because they were had phones? Without saying anything you shouldn't how did that happen?

[helomech]

Buy a local phone.......Iraqna has good coverage, and is reasonably cheap.......Thuraya above is not.

X1234567890....Thuraya works good if calling out,not waiting for a call