Which network is best for you?

One of the most important things to check before you make any decisions on the phone itself is where you are going to be using it. Currently Iridium is the only service provider to offer global coverage. Inmarsat and Globalstar are working on upgrading their systems to offer global coverage but do not do so at this time. In the meantime these two providers along with Thuraya only work in selected areas. Please look at our satellite coverage page to see which option would best suit you.

Pre-Paid or Post-Paid Airtime?

You need to buy a SIM card and satellite airtime along with your phone. Pre-paid airtime allows you to buy a specified amount of units or minutes and once they have been used you can either top up or purchase a new card. This is very similar to the way that a pay as you go SIM card works for a regular mobile phone.

The other option is to purchase post-paid airtime which has a minimum contract term of 12 months. Post-paid airtime carries a monthly charge in addition to the cost of any voice and data calls you will make using the SIM. The costs of calls and other services used on pre-paid and post-paid SIM cards vary depending on the service provider used. If you plan to use your satellite phone regularly throughout the year you may find it more cost effective to use a post-paid SIM card as call costs can work out slightly cheaper than a pre-paid card.

Which Satellite Phone Best Suits Your Needs?

Each satellite phone has its strengths and weaknesses. The Iridium 9555 is currently the only phone to work globally and is also one of the most rugged phones available. Thuraya’s range of phones have features more similar to regular mobile phones and they are of a similar size but do not offer global coverage. Thuraya have made satellite phones a more appealing option to users with all three phones having colour screens and the Thuraya SG-2520 having its own built in camera and web browser. Globalstar and Inmarsat offer satellite phones but unless you have a specific need to use their networks we would prefer to recommend Iridium or Thuraya due to increased reliability and more up-to-date handsets. Later this year Inmarsat will launch a new global satellite phone service and handset and at this time we will undoubtedly recommend their service. For more information please visit our satellite phone page.

If you are still not sure which phone best suits your requirements please contact us.

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