You need a satellite phone. Also: Your friends and family would love these phones for the holidays OK, it might seem a little James Bond – calling it a “sat phone” adds to the secret agent vibe – but they are more widespread and accessible than you might think, and there are several options available. Keep in mind a subscription is required to access a satellite network, and prices vary depending on the network you use, what kind of service you need, and how long of a subscription you are taking. Also, note that prices are far higher than for cellular networks and can reach eye-watering proportions. If you’d rather have a traditional setup, check out our page on the best phone.
Dimensions: 114 x 82 x 32 mmWeight: 305gServices: Satellite calls and satellite SMSBattery life – talk time: 5.5 hrBattery life – standby time: 15.5 hrOperating temperatures: 10 to 50 ℃Durability: MIL-STD 810FIngress protection: IP65
Now we move from a phone to a mobile satellite router. Just fire it up, it connects to the Iridium satellite constellation, and you get enough data bandwidth to check emails, use Twitter, pull up weather forecasts, and limited web browsing. You can connect up to five devices to the Iridium GO! hotspot. This is not a cheap kit, and is designed for those who truly want to go off-grid. It includes not only the Iridium GO! base station and AC travel charger with an international adapter but also comes with a solar charger and a desktop charger. The Iridium GO! offers up to 15.5 hours of standby battery life and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.
Dimensions: 166 × 38 × 24 mmWeight: 198gServices: Satellite SMS, automatic positioning, and SOSBattery life – 240 hoursOperating temp: -20 °C to 60 °CDurability: MIL-STD-810G for shockIngress protection: IP67
Another company that offers satellite trackers and messengers is SPOT. There’s the SPOT X, which is a two-way device that looks a lot like an old Blackberry, the SPOT Gen3 Messenger, which allows the user to send check-in and SOS messages, and the SPOT Tracker, which allows tracking of things like cars and suitcases.
Dimensions: 2.04 x 3.9 x 1.03 inchesDisplay: 176 x 176 pixels, sunlight-readable, monochrome displayWeight: 3.50 ozBattery life: Up to 14 days in 10-minute tracking modeWaterproof: IPX7Interface: USB-C
A handheld GPS receiver with a built-in satellite receiver that allows you to send and receive SMS messages via the Iridium network. Garmin actually makes many satellite-enabled devices, from the simple Garmin inReach Mini 2 to the Garmin inReach Explorer+. These combines the power of the Iridium satellite network with a handheld GPS receiver loaded with topo maps.
Dimensions: 128 × 53 × 27 mmWeight: 186gServices: Satellite calls and satellite SMSNetwork frequency: L-BandSatellite antenna: Omni-directional (walk-and-talk functionality)Battery life – talk time: Up to 6 hoursBattery life – standby time: Up to 80 hoursNetwork features: Call barring, Call diverting, Conference calls, Call waiting, Closed User Group, VoicemailOrganizer: Alarms, Calendar, Calculator, Stopwatch, World timeExternal interface: UDC data cable with USB connector, earphone jack (2.5 mm), DC power
Is it a satellite phone? Is it a regular GSM phone? The Thuraya XT-LITE is both, all using a single SIM card. And better still, it automatically switches from satellite to GSM without any hassles… so no forgotten calls because you’re out of coverage. A decent, rugged, no-frills sat phone. Note that the Thuraya satellite network does not offer coverage in the US, so this is a sat hone for when you’re in other territories.
Size: 16.9 x 7.65 x 2.9 cmWeight: 318 gIngress protection rating: IP65Impact protection rating: IK04Scratch resistant color screenMicro-USB interfaceView/send GPS location as text or emailBluetooth for hands-free callingProgrammable emergency assistance buttonIncoming call alerts when antenna is stowedSupports text-to-text: 160 charactersSupports text-to-email: 160 charactersFree web message-to-Isatphone 2
Now we move onto something that looks and acts like a phone. The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2.1 offers the ability to make and receive voice calls, SMS, track your position with GPS from anywhere on the globe. (Well, mostly, satellite coverage at the north and south poles is poor. Outside of those areas, people will get excellent coverage.) The built-in lithium-ion battery offers 8 hours of talk time and 160 hours standby, and the entire package is IP65 rated for dust- and waterproofing. The price starts at $569 for the phone, charger, and SIM with no airtime.
What you need it forPriceNetwork (and associated coverage)
Price: Cost is always a factor, especially for those who are going to use their satellite phone only occasionally.Availability: No point listing something that’s not in stock!Coverage: Not all satellite networks offer global coverage, so knowing this in advance is important.Use case: Are you looking for a traditional satellite phone, or do you want something more specialized like a satellite hotspot ort emergency beacon?
Apple has added a feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite which allows owners to contact emergency services when in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Emergency SOS via satellite is free for the next two years, after which Apple plans to start charging for the service, although right now we don’t have a price. This service is currently available in the US and Canada, and will roll out to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December 2022.
