What is a Satellite phone

A telephone that transmits and receives via satellites that provide coverage around the whole world. There are two major satellite phone companies that provide services to the end user: Iridium and Globalstar, and a newer, smaller one: Thuraya.

Let's take a look at the satellite phone providers:

Iridium
It uses low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and provides phone and pager service that has global coverage. Internet access is available at 10 Kbps, while data access is available at 2.4 Kbps. It was announced in 1990 and finalized in 1998 with a total cost of $6 billion, Iridium was the first global satellite phone service. To provide standard cell phone service, the system originally used cellular partners when satellites were not required.

Globalstar
Covering roughly 80% of the world's surface, this satellite-based communications company offers voice and short messaging services. Globalstar used LEO satellites and handheld phones just after Iridium, but they were the first to use the high quality QUALCOMM's CDMA technology. With support for one or two cellular modes and satellite, Globalstar phones let you use all the standard facilities when possible and, while in remote areas, switch to the satellites. The Globalstar service was pulled out in late 1999.

Thuraya
National telecommunication operators and international investment houses founded Thuraya in 1997. It's home base is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The satellite was built by the Boeing Satellite Systems formerly known as Hughes. On October 20, 2000 the Sea Launch Zenti-3SL rocket lifted off the Odyssey Launch Platform. It delivered the Thuraya satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit, which weighed 11,260 pound. The United Kingdom, Denmark, Sudan, Romania, and Italy were the first countries in which the system was tested. The second satellite, Thuraya-2, was shipped from the Boeing facility to the Sea Launch Company, in order to be placed in orbit, in early June 2003. This is positioned over the Pacific Ocean, on the Equator line. Currently, the Thuraya system covers over 100 countries in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Why use a satellite phone?
First and most important, the satellite phones cover a wide area, and the Iridium phones, actually, the whole planet. Second, since, the early 2000, the costs of these type of phones has dropped dramatically, making them more accessible to the public. Third, while they use satellites for remote areas of the planet, when in populated areas, they switch to regular cellular antennas, thus making them even cheaper. Fourth, and this is valid only for the Globalstar system, the technology their phones use is high-end, increasing the data transfer speed and making it possible to receive faxes or e-mail wherever you are. Fifth, and maybe the most important, with the constant terrorist threat looming over every business's head, if the normal, cellular network fails (in case of a bomb attack), the satellite phones, will not.

Why NOT use a satellite phone?
As useful as the satellite phones may be, they still have a few downsides, when comparing them to the usual cellular phones. Their data speed would be one of the downsides, since, it's far smaller then of the regular cell-phones, even if constantly increasing. Another downside is their bulky appearance and weight.

Overall, if you must go somewhere remote, such as on safari or scuba diving on a remote island, or if you just want to be sure that no matter what you can speak with your business partners then satellite phones are the answer.