Satelite Phones Today

Things have come a long way since the days of the 'Sputnik'! Satellite systems now provide both voice and data communication for areas of the world where there is no land or cell phone coverage. Satelite telephones help us to keep in touch when in the air or out at sea. It also helps us to keep track and in contact with those brave adventurers who test the boundaries of endurance and skill. We can follow their routes, talk to them and receive photographs and film from wherever they are and be instantly ready to help when things don't go according to plan.

How does it work then? The satellite phone transmits a signal, via an antenna to an orbiting satellite in a network of satellites then back to a ground station and a standard land based phone network. Sounds good doesn't it? However, the line of sight signal path between the satellite telephone and satellite must not be obstructed. Even bad weather can sometimes be a problem. In general, reception is much better outdoors but if you are on a boat at sea or in a plane in the air then an external antenna might be needed.

Right now there are five major satellite phone service providers. Global Star and Iridium are still the largest. They offer an array of options for both businesses and the average person in the street. Iridium is perhaps the best known of them all for a variety of reasons. The company uses a network of 66 operational low-earth-orbit satellites and they have an additional 13 spare satellites too. The satellites are in orbits roughly 485 miles above the surface of the Earth.

They supply to an extensive variety of markets which include construction, mining, government, leisure and maritime. They also provide equipment to the military and to rescue and disaster relief organisations. Companies tend to sell their services through a collection of service partners, value-added resellers and manufacturers.

You may have noticed that that satelite phones are used regularly by the military, shipping and airlines. They also play an important part in disaster zones. Charitable organisations need to find out what help is required as soon as possible and the landlines and cell networks are often the first to be disrupted. Tracking the signal can help guide helicopters into the most affected and possibly isolated areas to deliver aid quickly.

Trucks that travel close to the Alaskan pipeline are being fitted with satellite phones in a bid to combat terrorism. If a truck gets hijacked then the authorities are notified instantly using the satellite network. Using the same satellite phone, the hijacked truck can be disabled before the terrorist has a chance to use it as a weapon.

Satellite telephones are still an expensive form of communication, far more expensive than most calls from a cellular phone. The technology will continue to improve however and when the usage becomes more widespread, you should see the costs fall dramatically. At the time of writing call costs appear to be comparable with the cost of international roaming cell phone calls. As a public relations exercise and to give the consumer market a bit of a boost, the industry is currently engaged in fund raising with a view to supplying satellite phones and free calls to the US National Guard serving in Iraq.