Hundreds of people each day have been heading to new satellite phone outlets in a Papua New Guinea (PNG) school, it has been reported.

The National publication reports that many people have been heading to the Komo-based school to ring their loved ones around the country and abroad.

Services and facilities were provided by Umbrella Joint Venture (UJV), a landowner company from the south-east Mananda oil project in Komo.

UJV managing director Ipape Hulijeli said that he hoped people would look after the system and cut down on tribal fighting so that other such developments can be installed in the area.

Schoolteacher in the region John Hal thanked Mr Hulijeli, the Department of Petroleum and Energy and local MP Francis Potape for their respective parts in bringing the service to the Komo people.

PNG is a country often visited by linguists due to the fact there are more than 800 languages spoken in the country.

Other reasons for visiting the country are the fishing and diving opportunities it offers.

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Nine hunters who had found themselves stranded in northern Labrador, Canada, managed to make contact with a Nain resident via satellite phone.

According to CBC News, the hunters used the technology to send out a warning after they went aground on a shoal some 100 km north of Nain.

Following the message, a fishing vessel was sent out by the Canadian Coast Guard to go and find the missing hunters.

Prior to the search by ship, a military plane had located the group and released supplies to keep them going.

The incident highlights how satellite phone technology can be useful when going on a long trip to places where regular mobile phone signals cannot be received.

Satellite phones can be used while on safari in Africa, mountaineering in the Australian mountains or fishing out at sea.

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A satellite phone has been used to locate a missing fishing trawler, which was found to be 72 nautical miles south-east of Malta, according to the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM).

Reports from Malta reveal that one of the wives of the missing crew managed to get in touch with the boat using the technology.

A number of messages were obtained from the satellite phone call, including the coordinates of the ship, the fact a crew member was injured and the knowledge that the vessel was out of action.

From 12:30 local time, when the first contact was made by Joan Kedri, whose husband was out at sea, it took just over four hours for the Italian Air Force to find the missing crew.

Treatment to the injured man was given and he was airlifted to hospital in the air force’s helicopter.

AFM said that the trawler’s parent company - Fish-to-Fish - organised for the boat to be towed back to Malta.

Last month, an Australian school party was rescued after being located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales via satellite phone.

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Those travelling to the US with United Airlines over the next month may be able benefit from using satellite phones on their journeys, it has emerged.

People flying with airline between now and December 14th, who have purchased a full-fare return ticket to New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington or Los Angeles, can get a free upgrade to the first class section.

The offer applies to people with tickets that have the code CR2UA.

In addition to satellite phone technology, the first class area of United Airlines offers passengers a pre-departure drinks service, an amenity kit, menus with a choice of four main courses, Starbucks coffee, complimentary newspapers, international wine and champagne.

Other in-flight entertainment is also provided for these travellers.

Satellite phone service are available on United Airlines’ domestic and international flights, B767, B747 and B777.

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Broadband technology and satellite phones may be common place in our skies if the reintroduction of airships goes ahead, according to a leading industry figure

Airship expert Ron Hochstetler said that industry research has found that satellite phones, broadband internet and other equipment could be fitted to airships and not affect its flight systems, unlike in aeroplanes.

Mr Hochstetler told Green Options: "The airship could be outfitted with broadband access to the internet, satellite phone communications and all the media entertainment you can imagine."

"You could have wide open sightseeing windows, sit down dinners, or full sleeping quarters where you can stretch out in a real bed," he added.

Airships were often used for passenger transportation during World War Two but are more commonly used for tourist trips or sponsorship reasons nowadays.

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