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So you’re out to sea on an extended cruise and suddenly you realize you forgot to put a cover on your TPS Report back at work. You need to put a call in to the office, but you’re way beyond the realm of cell phones. Luckily you’ve got a satellite phone handy, and all is taken care of in a matter of seconds, even halfway to Bermuda.
If you need to be able to make a phone call anywhere on the planet without hassle, a satellite phone is your best, and possibly only option. With networks that cover the entirety of the planet, including the poles, you can keep in touch regardless of how far away from civilization you want to be.
You Push the Buttons, It Does the Work
Satellite phones work similarly to GPS systems and satellite radios. When you make a call from it, a signal is sent up to a satellite orbiting overhead. From there the signal is bounced around the satellites and transmitted down to a local gateway on Earth. The gateway then connects to a wireless service provider so the call can be completed like a cell phone call. Likewise, if someone calls you, it works essentially in the opposite order.
While already in widespread use by the military, government agencies, and marine-based corporations, Satcom is still an emerging market for commercial use.
Nevertheless, there are numerous service providers, such as Iridium, GlobalStar, and IntelSat, who offer business and personal solutions worldwide. Some providers, however, have larger satellite fleets than others, meaning greater coverage globally.
In addition, many providers offer data services that allow you to access email and the Internet using their products. If you have a laptop on board, you can utilize the wireless satellite technology as a modem to create a mobile office.
Go Global, Think Local
Satcom products start at about $1,200 for the phone units, and service can be purchased for as little as $30 a month. There are, of course, several variables that will ultimately determine the price of a particular call, such as roaming charges, and where the call is going.
With time the products and services should become more affordable, but for those who are out of reach of conventional terrestrial communications, satellite telephones are a truly mobile solution today.
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