I started flying N Atlantic in '69; was told that by '73 all ATC Comm would be VHF via satellite, and HF work on North Atlantic would be gone. Well. At least Ocean Stations were VHF then; to this day HF is used for ATC, but pax use satellite for personal calls; shows what the powers-that-be believe are priorities. Can someone tell me why, with ACARS substituting for most voice comm, VHF voice comm is still not available 31 years later, and HF is still a primary mode for the North Atlantic? In Africa & Indian sub-continent there are budgetary reasons...but why the North Atlantic? Should this be an ALPA/BALPA issue, or are all such members using ACARS and don't give a damn for the rest of people using this airspace? Is it possible, thru satellite, to have common ATC VHF freqs to control aircraft in this airspace?