A satellite phone primer

What a satellite phone actually is

A satellite phone — or satphone — is a handheld or transportable device that uses orbiting satellites instead of cellular towers to carry voice calls, SMS and data. Where there is no terrestrial network, where mountains block line-of-sight to the tower, or where you need a connection that does not depend on local infrastructure, a satphone reaches up to the sky and finds a satellite.

What it can and can’t do

Most modern satellite handsets give you:

• Voice calls to any normal phone number worldwide
• Text messages in and out (sometimes via email)
• Position reporting and SOS via integrated GPS

What they don’t do well: streaming, social media, web browsing, video calls. The narrow-band devices are voice-first. If you need real broadband in the field, you want a BGAN or Certus terminal — that’s a different category of kit.

The networks at a glance

We provide services for a number of satellite operators. Each one has its own distinct service and hardware. The choice between them is, more than anything else, a choice about where you’ll be using the equipment and what for.

Iridium

The only network with truly global coverage, including the poles. Uses a constellation of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites, cross-linked in space, so a call you make in Antarctica is handed satellite-to-satellite back to a ground station. Excellent for emergency, travel, expedition, polar, maritime and aviation use, and for its flexibility.

Iridium is also an IMO-recognised GMDSS provider for maritime distress and safety, offers mid-band broadband through its Certus terminals, and carries data-efficient IoT and tracking traffic over Short Burst Data (SBD).

Inmarsat

Geostationary satellites — fixed positions in the sky above the equator — covering everywhere except the poles: strongest near the equator, weaker toward the edges. The IsatPhone 2 handset is rugged (IP65-rated) with up to 160 hours of standby.

Thuraya

Geostationary coverage (Thuraya-4) across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Lower-cost handsets available.

Globalstar

A low-earth-orbit constellation with a “bent-pipe” architecture — your call goes up, the satellite relays it straight back to the nearest ground station, and the call is connected. Voice calling in its covered regions — coverage depends on nearby ground stations, so check the coverage map. Globalstar also offers a range of low-cost, flexible devices for asset tracking.

Coverage matters more than features

The most common mistake is picking a phone on features when the deciding factor is coverage. Iridium will work anywhere*; the others won’t. If you’ll only operate inside a known coverage area, you can pay less and get more useful features for the money.

* Iridium complies with US embargo restrictions, so service is withheld in a small number of sanctioned territories. Some countries also restrict possession or use of satellite phones.

We’ve sold satellite phones since 1998 and we’re independent of the operators, so we will gladly tell you what is best for your trip, whichever network that is.

Choosing airtime

Airtime service types vary across networks and equipment, but broadly speaking they come in two variants:

• Prepaid — upfront purchase of bundles, often with validity periods.
• Monthly — an ongoing plan charged each month; recommended for ongoing requirements.

Most customers pick a phone first, then a plan. Talk to us if you have any queries or are unsure what would be best for you.

Renting, leasing or buying?

If you only need a satphone for a single trip, rental almost always beats buying. We rent and lease the Iridium 9575 Extreme, IsatPhone 2 and Iridium GO! Exec, as well as broadband-capable terminals. See our rental options or get in touch for a quote.

What to do next

1. Read “Which network?” for a quick, opinionated steer on which network fits where you’re going.
2. Read “Coverage at a glance” to see what each network covers — and where it doesn’t.
3. Call us on +44 20 7120 0009 — we don’t bite, and we’d rather spend ten minutes on the phone than ship you the wrong phone.

That’s the primer. Read on, or ask a human.