What is A Satellite Phone ?

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A satellite phone or satphone is a mobile phone that sends and receives calls using satellites rather than landlines or cellular broadcasting towers. A satellite phone only requires a clear line of sight to the sky. The advantage of a satellite phone is that it can complete calls from anywhere. A satellite phone can operate in the middle of the Sahara desert, at the top of Mount Everest, or from a clearing deep within a South African jungle. It is an indispensable tool for remote excursions of all kinds, and provides solid communication on the seas and in the air.

A disadvantage of a satellite phone is a noticeable delay in conversations. The signal must first travel to the satellite, then to an earthbound gateway before being routed to the receiver. The receiver's response will follow the same path in reverse, taking equally long to reach the caller. Satellite minutes are also more expensive than cellular minutes.

However, these drawbacks are irrelevant when considering the function that a satellite phone serves. It can create a link to civilization from places where no other link is available. It also allows loved ones to stay in touch, as in the case of researchers, adventurers and those in the military, and it can provide backup communication in disasters when cellular towers or landlines might not be functional.

The three main satellite networks at present are Iridium, Globalstar and Thuraya. Iridium uses low orbiting satellites that minimize conversational delays, but more importantly, it is the only current satellite network that provides coverage over the entire earth, including the oceans. Competitor Globalstar covers about 80% of the earth's landmasses, excluding northern and southern polar regions, while Thuraya covers parts of India, Asia, Africa, the entire Middle East and Europe.

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