Как выглядит номер спутникового телефона

При возникновении необходимости позвонить на спутниковый телефон, в первую очередь следует знать, услугами какого оператора спутниковой связи пользуется человек, с которым необходимо связаться. На данный момент на российском рынке спутниковой связи представлены четыре провайдера: Thuraya, Iridium, Inmarsat, Globalstar. У каждого из операторов имеются свои коды и способы осуществления звонков, но некоторые общие особенности прослеживаются у всех.

Для того чтобы позвонить обладателю спутникового телефона, сначала необходимо выяснить тарифы исходящего звонка вашего оператора связи, чтобы выставленный счет за услуги не был неожиданностью. На текущий момент цена минуты разговора может составлять до 300 рублей.

При звонке со стационарного телефона набор спутникового номера производится практически так же, как и при звонке за границу, по стандартной схеме, только вместо кода страны и города вводится код спутника провайдера:

8 – 10 – (код спутника) – номер абонента

Если необходимо позвонить на спутниковый с телефона GSM сети, то у некоторых операторов спутниковой связи набор через +8 является необходимым, другие же обеспечивают подключение только при наборе номера спутника. Вариации набора номера спутникового телефона при звонке с сотового телефона представлены в сводной таблице ниже.

Звонок со спутникового телефона на сотовый или телефон ТСОП осуществляется у всех операторов практически одинаково.

00 / + — (код страны) – (код города) – (номер абонента)

В сводной таблице вы найдете информацию о том, у каких операторов следует набирать «00», а у каких «+».

Тарификация звонка на спутниковый телефон или с него начинается с первой секунды подключения. При подписании договора услуг спутниковой связи, в тарифной сетке указана информация о том, как и с каким интервалом происходит округление времени разговора.

Сводная таблица набора номеров

Особенности осуществления звонков разными операторами спутниковой связи.

Iridium

Чтобы сделать звонок на телефон Iridium со смартфона, в первую очередь необходимо являться абонентом одного из операторов мобильной связи. Если звонок осуществляется с домашнего стационарного телефона, то важно, чтобы оператором международной связи был «Ростелеком» и был заключен договор на физическое лицо. Необходимо, чтобы у звонящего устройства был доступ к услугам международной связи.

Звонок на спутниковые телефоны Iridium не всегда возможно совершить со стационарного телефона с использованием стандартного ввода кода спутника. В таком случае, необходимо позвонить по номеру + 1 480 768 2500 и следовать инструкциям для соединения. Такой звонок будет осуществлен посредством американского телефонного шлюза с необходимостью ввода PIN кода (4 последних цифры номера SIM-карты) в тональном режиме.

Inmarsat

Как правило звонки на устройства подключенные к спутниковому провайдеру Inmarsat осуществляются с обязательным введением PIN-кода. Вслед за набором номера необходимо ввести индивидуальный PIN в тональном режиме, только после этого произойдет соединение с абонентом спутниковой связи Inmarsat. Каждый спутниковый телефон этого оператора настроен на работу с одним из четырех спутников, поэтому при вводе номера указывается код конкретного спутника. Если код спутника звонящему не известен, то можно воспользоваться общим кодом Inmarsat – 870.

При осуществлении вызова с сотового телефона ввод PIN-кода может и не потребоваться – это зависит от GSM-оператора. Если звонящий вводит PIN, то счет за звонок выставляется абоненту спутниковой связи, если нет, то оплачивает звонок владелец сотового телефона.

Если услуг международной связи оператор ТСОП не предоставляет, то на Inmarsat можно позвонить так: сначала следует набрать номер 967 12 44, после этого перевести телефон в тональный режим, набрать код спутника, номер абонента и PIN-код.

Коды спутников Inmarsat

• Западно-Атлантический спутник – AORW – 874
• Индоокеанский спутник – IOR – 873
• Тихоокеанский спутник – POR – 872
• Восточно-Атлантический спутник – AORE – 871

Thuraya

Спутниковая связь Thuraya одна из самых простых, если говорить об осуществлении звонков. Принципы набора номера представлены в сводной таблице и не имеют никаких исключений. Если в устройство Thuraya вставлена SIM-карта оператора мобильной связи, то осуществление вызовов будет точно такое же, как если бы это был телефон любой из GSM-сетей.

Globalstar

Провайдер связи Globalstar, так же как и Thuaraya, имеет простую систему набора номера при звонках как на спутниковый телефон так и с него. Пожалуй, единственной особенностью является необходимость набирать +7 вместо 8, если звонок осуществляется с сотового телефона из заграницы.

В Интернет-магазине компании Маринэк представлен широкий ассортимент спутникового оборудования, а также тарифы спутниковых операторов Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya, Globalstar. При покупке спутникового телефона вы сразу можете выбрать тариф спутниковой связи и заключить договор оказания услуг. Специалисты Маринэк проконсультируют вас при выборе оборудования и подберут оптимальный тарифный план.

Спутниковая связь Iridium

Номер спутникового телефона

Российский номер +7-954-ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ
Международный +8816-ХХ-ХХ-ХХ-ХХ

Как звонить со спутникового телефона Iridium?

Как звонить на спутниковый телефон Iridium?

Тарификация звонков со спутникового телефона

Проверка баланса

SMS

Для отправки SMS со спутникового телефона Iridium необходимо настроить SMS-центр: Меню/Menu -> Сообщения/Messages -> Установки/Settings -> Сервис-центр/Service Center введите номер SMS центра: +79541070005 или 0079541070005.

Спутниковая связь Инмарсат

Номер спутникового телефона

+870 ХХХ ХХХ ХХХ

Как звонить со спутникового телефона Inmarsat?

Как звонить на спутниковый телефон Inmarsat?

Проверка баланса

Как практически бесплатно совершить звонок на спутниковый телефонный аппарат

Как практически бесплатно совершить звонок на спутниковый телефонный аппарат?

В данной статье будут рассмотрены правила дозвона на спутниковый телефон с минимальными экономическими затратами.

Общеизвестно, что стоимость вызова из Телефонной Сети Общего Пользования (ТСОП/ТФОП), альтернативной сети телефонной связи VOIP-операторов, а также из сотовой сети мобильной связи на абонентский номер терминалов и телефонов, работающих в сети спутниковой подвижной связи, считается довольно большой, она может достигать и двадцати американских долларов за минуту.

Ниже приведены несколько советов о том, как почти бесплатно соверщать звонки на спутниковые телефонные аппараты, терминалы сетей спутниковой подвижной связи Thuraya, Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat. 

Как дозвониться на спутниковый телефон Iridium (Иридиум) почти бесплатно?

Совершение звонков за счет вызываемого пользователя могут использоваться в тех ситуациях, когда у звонящего отсутствует техническая или финансовая возможность осуществлять прямой вызов на номера абонентов Иридиум-системы. 

Разумеется, обязательно перед тем как использовать такой метод, желательно предварительно договориться с вызываемыми абонентами, чей лицевой счет вы будете использовать для взятия денежных средств в погашение входящих вызовов, чтобы факт взятия с лицевого счета средств не стал неприятной неожиданностью, которая способна за собой повлечь еще более неприятные закономерные последствия, такие как блокирование номера из-за исчерпания эфирного оплаченного времени и так далее. 

Помимо этого, следует провести активацию самой возможности дозвона на номера абонентов со списанием цены звонков с лицевых счетов абонентов Иридиум, что может сделать сервис провайдер либо сразу с покупкой спутникового телефонного аппарата и активации пакетов эфирного времени, возможно, и позже по запросам от абонентов.

Для начала использования данной услуги нужно приобрести карточку дозвона с требуемым номиналом, после чего Вам сообщат ПИН-код, необходимый для доступа к шлюзу. После этого можно звонить на номера абонентов Iridium-сети.

Существует 2 варианта дозвона на номера абонентов Иридиум за их счет:

Такой способ считают более быстрым по периоду времени, нужного для установления связей с абонентом, но данный вариант предполагает наличие ежемесячной постоянной оплаты за использование выделенного телефонного номера, а также оплату поминутно за входящие вызовы с последующим списанием с лицевого счета реального абонента Иридиум данных средств. 

Стоимость одной минуты вызова для звонящих, использующих такую карту дозвона, в данном случае будет почти мизерной, составляя несколько центов.

Данный способ потребует незначительно большего периода времени для установления прочной связи с Iridium-абонентом, так как для этого необходимо сначала установить связь с межсетевым американским шлюзом. После того, как со шлюзом связь установлена звонящему предлагается набрать 12-тизначный номер реального абонента Иридиум-сети и до периода установления связи с нужным абонентом оставаться на линии. Если телефоны пользователей работают в импульсных режимах, до начала набора номеров абонентов Iridium необходимо будет переключить тоновый режим, нажатием на кнопку звездочка.

За каждые 60 секунд разговора будет списываться определенная сумма со счета вызываемого абонента. Стоимость одной минуты вызова для звонящих, использующих такую карту дозвона, в данном случае будет почти мизерной, составляя несколько центов.

В итоге, использование одного из двух выше указанных способов позволяет звонящему практически бесплатно совершать звонки на телефонные аппараты и терминалы спутниковой Iridium-сети, а вызываемые абоненты заплатят суммы вполне разумные по сравнению с ценой звонков из телефонных ТФОП-сетей, альтернативной сети интернет телефонии, сотовой сети мобильной связи.

Как дозвониться на спутниковый телефон Inmarsat (Инмарсат), порядок набора?

Как дозвониться на спутниковый Thuraya (Турайя)- телефон?

Наличие возможности осуществления вызова на телефон спутниковой Thuraya (Турайя) сети по средствам различных операторов следует уточнить непосредственно у конкретных операторов. 

Порядок наборов номеров телефона абонентов спутниковой Thuraya (Турайя) сети при звонке с мобильного телефона сотовой сети связи: набираем + 88216 [цифры абонентского номера спутникового Турайя-телефона]. 

Порядок набора номеров телефона абонентов спутниковой Thuraya (Турайя)- сети при звонках из телефонной сети общего пользования (ТСОП/ТФОП) по средствам Ростелекома: набираем 8 108 8216 [цифры абонентского номера спутникового Турайя-телефона].

Если абоненты спутниковой сети Турайя используют в телефонах простые SIM карты операторов мобильной сотовой GSM-связи, то порядок набора выглядит как набор обычного звонка на сотовый телефонный аппарат. 

Как дозвониться на спутниковый телефон Globalstar (Глобалстар)?

Чтобы дозвониться на спутниковый телефон российского сегмента Globalstar-системы нет необходимости совершать международные звонки в форматах «810 …».

Правила совершения звонков на спутниковый Глобалстар-телефон сходны с осуществлением междугородних вызовов, когда после набора «восьмерки» сразу идет трехзначный код города. 

Итак, порядок набора номеров при звонках на спутниковый телефон российского сегмента Globalstar-сети выглядит так: 8 954 [цифры абонентского номера спутникового Глобалстар-телефона].

Стоимость 60 секунд вызова на телефонный номер российской Глобалстар-системы будет разной при звонках по средствам разных операторов дальней связи, но будет достаточно приемлемой. Стоимость 60 секунд вызова будет зависеть также от местонахождения звонящего абонента. 

Как позвонить на спутниковый телефон Иридиум (Iridium)?

Позвонить на спутниковый телефон Иридиум (Iridium) можно с мобильных телефонов, подключенных к сотовым операторам Мегафон, МТС, Билайн и Теле2. О возможности совершения звонков на Иридиум (Iridium) при использовании проводных, включая Ростелеком и МТТ, а также альтернативных сотовых провайдеров следует уточнять в соответствующей абонентской службе.

Правило набора номера абонента Иридиум (Iridium), использующего официальную российскую SIM карту:
+ 7954 [номер спутникового телефона]

Правило набора номера абонента Иридиум (Iridium), использующего международную SIM карту:
+ 8816 [номер спутникового телефона]

Стоимость звонка можно узнать в абонентской службе провайдера, который используется для выхода на Иридиум. На текущий момент минута  связи с Иридиум оценивается сотовыми операторами от 280 до 450 рублей.

Еще одни способ дозвона на телефоны Иридиум — вызов через американский шлюз за счет вызываемого абонента. Очевидно, что для этого следует заручиться разрешением пользователя, с чьего счета будут списываться денежные средства. Для осуществления такого звонка следует набрать номер + 1 (480) 768 25 00, дождаться ответа автоинформатора и следовать его инструкциям, которые, по сути сводятся к тому, что в определенный момент времени будет предложено в тональном наборе ввести требуемый номер. В ряде случаев система может запрашивать пароль (код PIN), который заранее следует уточнить у владельца телефона.

Как позвонить на спутниковый телефон Турайя (Thuraya)?

Позвонить на спутниковый телефон Thuraya (Турайя) можно с мобильных телефонов, подключенных к сотовым операторам Мегафон, МТС, Билайн, Теле2 и с проводного телефона Ростелеком. О возможности совершения звонков на Thuraya (Турайя) при использовании альтернативных проводных или сотовых провайдеров следует уточнять в соответствующей абонентской службе.

Правило набора номера абонента Турайя (Thuraya), использующего официальную российскую SIM карту:
+ 7954 [номер спутникового телефона]

Правило набора номера абонента Турайя (Thuraya), использующего международную SIM карту:
+ 88216 [номер спутникового телефона]

Правило набора номера абонента Турайя (Thuraya) при звонке с телефона Ростелеком:
8-10-954 [номер спутникового телефона] или 8-10-88216 [номер спутникового телефона]

Стоимость звонка можно узнать в абонентской службе провайдера, который используется для выхода на Thuraya. На текущий момент минута связи с Thuraya оценивается сотовыми операторами от 280 до 450 рублей.

В том случае, если в спутниковый телефон Турайя (Thuraya) установлена собственная GSM SIM карта, то правила набора ничем не будут отличаться от правил звонков на обычный сотовый телефон.

Как позвонить на спутниковый телефон Inmarsat?

Позвонить на спутниковый телефон Inmarsat (Инмарсат) можно с любого сотового телефона с телефона Ростелеком. О возможности совершения звонков на Inmarsat (Инмарсат) при использовании альтернативных проводных или сотовых провайдеров следует уточнять в соответствующей абонентской службе.

Правило набора номера абонента Inmarsat (Инмарсат) при звонке с сотового телефона:
+ 870 [номер спутникового телефона]

Правило набора номера абонента Inmarsat (Инмарсат) при звонке с телефона Ростелеком:
8-10-870 [номер спутникового телефона]

Стоимость звонка можно узнать в абонентской службе провайдера, который используется для выхода на Inmarsat.

Как позвонить на спутниковый телефон ГлобалСтар (GlobalStar)?

Позвонить на спутниковый телефон Глобалстар, подключенный в Российской Федерации, можно как с обычного (ТСОП), так и с мобильного телефона.

Правило набора номера абонента ГлобалСтар при звонке с ТСОП

Для телефонных сетей с импульсным набором:
8 [дождаться гудка] 954 [номер спутникового телефона ГлобалСтар]

Для телефонных сетей с тональным набором:
8954 [номер спутникового телефона ГлобалСтар] где 954 — код спутниковой сети ГлобалСтар.

Правило набора номера абонента ГлобалСтар при звонке с мобильных телефонов:
+954 [номер спутникового телефона ГлобалСтар]

В том случае, если в спутниковый телефон ГлобалСтар установлена собственная GSM SIM карта, то правила набора ничем не будут отличаться от правил звонков на обычный сотовый телефон.

Напоминаем, что в настоящее время система ГлобалСтар испытывает серьезные технические проблемы, поэтому вызовы возможны в короткие промежутки времени, когда вызываемому абоненту удается зарегистрироваться в сети.

🎥  Видео — варианты и тонкие места при звонке на спутниковый телефон на 2021 год:

Как можно позвонить на спутниковый телефон с мобильного. Как позвонить на спутниковый телефон и не разорится. Покажем все проблемы с дозвоном, и, как обойти подводные камни операторов связи. Инструкции для звонков через: МТС, Мегафон, Би-лайн, Теле-2 и РОСТЕЛЕКОМ. Звонки на Iridium и Thuraya. Еще варианты, как связаться со спутниковым абонентом за «ноль» рублей!!!

📖 Как отправить SMS на спутниковый телефон?

О всех тонкостях отправки сообщений с сотового и сети интернет на спутниковый телефон

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A satellite telephone, satellite phone or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio link through satellites orbiting the Earth instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do. Therefore, they can work in most geographic locations on the Earth’s surface, as long as open sky and the line-of-sight between the phone and the satellite are provided. Depending on the architecture of a particular system, coverage may include the entire Earth or only specific regions. Satellite phones provide similar functionality to terrestrial mobile telephones; voice calling, text messaging, and low-bandwidth Internet access are supported through most systems. The advantage of a satphone is that it can be used in such regions where local terrestrial communication infrastructures, such as landline and cellular networks, are not available.

Satphones are popular on expeditions into remote locations, hunting, fishing, maritime sector, humanitarian missions, business trips, and mining in hard-to-reach areas, where there is no reliable cellular service.^[1] Satellite telephones rarely get disrupted by natural disasters on Earth or human actions such as war, so they have proven to be dependable communication tools in emergency situations, when the local communications system can be compromised.^[2]

The mobile equipment, also known as a terminal, varies widely. Early satellite phone handsets had a size and weight comparable to that of a late-1980s or early-1990s mobile phone, but usually with a large retractable antenna. More recent satellite phones are similar in size to a regular mobile phone while some prototype satellite phones have no distinguishable difference from an ordinary smartphone.^[3][4]

A fixed installation, such as one used aboard a ship, may include large, rugged, rack-mounted electronics, and a steerable microwave antenna on the mast that automatically tracks the overhead satellites. Smaller installations using VoIP over a two-way satellite broadband service such as BGAN or VSAT bring the costs within the reach of leisure vessel owners. Internet service satellite phones have notoriously poor reception indoors, though it may be possible to get a consistent signal near a window or in the top floor of a building if the roof is sufficiently thin. The phones have connectors for external antennas that can be installed in vehicles and buildings. The systems also allow for the use of repeaters, much like terrestrial mobile phone systems.

In the early 2020s, various conventional mobile phones began to integrate satellite messaging connectivity and satellite emergency services for use in remote regions, where there is no reliable terrestrial network.

Satellite network[edit]

Satellite phone systems can be classified into two types: systems that use satellites in a high geostationary orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s surface, and systems that use satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), 640 to 1,120 kilometers (400 to 700 miles) above the Earth.

Geostationary satellites[edit]

Some satellite phones use satellites in geostationary orbit (GSO), which appear at a fixed position in the sky. These systems can maintain near-continuous global coverage with only three or four satellites, reducing the launch costs. The satellites used for these systems are very heavy (about 5000 kg) and expensive to build and launch. The satellites orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s surface; a noticeable delay is present while making a phone call or using data services due to the large distance from users. The amount of bandwidth available on these systems is substantially higher than that of the low Earth orbit (LEO) systems; all three active systems provide portable satellite Internet using laptop-sized terminals with speeds ranging from 60 to 512 kbit per second (kbps).

Geostationary satellite phones can only be used at lower latitudes, generally between 70 degrees north of the equator and 70 degrees south of the equator. At higher latitudes the satellite appears at such a low angle in the sky that radio frequency interference from terrestrial sources in the same frequency bands can interfere with the signal.

Another disadvantage of geostationary satellite systems is that in many areas—even where a large amount of open sky is present—the line-of-sight between the phone and the satellite is broken by obstacles such as steep hills and forest. The user will need to find an area with line-of-sight before using the phone. This is not the case with LEO services: even if the signal is blocked by an obstacle, one can wait a few minutes until another satellite passes overhead, but a GSO satellite may drop a call when line of sight is lost.

• ACeS: This former Indonesia-based small regional operator provided voice and data services in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia using a single satellite. It ceased operations in 2014.
• Inmarsat: The oldest satellite phone operator, a British company founded in 1979. It originally provided large fixed installations for ships, but has recently entered the market of hand-held phones in a joint venture with ACeS. The company operates eleven satellites. Coverage is available on most of the Earth, except polar regions.
• Thuraya: Established in 1997, United Arab Emirates-based Thuraya’s satellites provide coverage across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
• MSAT / SkyTerra: An American satellite-phone company that uses equipment similar to Inmarsat, but plans to launch a service using hand-held devices in the Americas similar to Thuraya’s.
• Terrestar: Satellite-phone system for North America.
• ICO Global Communications: An American satellite-phone company which has launched a single geosynchronous satellite, not yet active.

Low Earth orbit[edit]

Satphones may utilize satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The advantages include the possibility of providing worldwide wireless coverage with no gaps. LEO satellites orbit the Earth in high-speed, low-altitude orbits with an orbital time of 70–100 minutes, an altitude of 640 to 1,120 kilometers (400 to 700 miles). Since the satellites are not geostationary, they move with respect to the ground. A given satellite is only in view of a phone for a short time, so the call must be «handed off» electronically to another satellite when one passes beyond the local horizon. Depending on the positions of both the satellite and terminal, a usable pass of an individual LEO satellite will typically last 4–15 minutes on average.^[5] At least one satellite must have line-of-sight to every coverage area at all times to guarantee coverage; thus a constellation of satellites, typically 40 to 70, is required to maintain worldwide coverage.

• Globalstar: A network covering most of the world’s landmass using 48 active satellites. However, many areas of the Earth’s surface are left without coverage, since a satellite requires to be in range of an Earth station gateway. Satellites fly in an inclined orbit of 52 degrees, therefore polar regions cannot be covered. The network went into full commercial service in February 2000. A second-generation constellation consists of 24 low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. The launch of the second-generation constellation was completed on February 6, 2013.
• Iridium: A network operating 66 satellites in a polar orbit that claims to have coverage everywhere on Earth. Radio cross-links are used between satellites to relay data to the nearest satellite with a connection to an Earth station.^[6] Commercial service started in November 1998 and fell into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1999.^[7] In 2001, service was re-established by Iridium Satellite LLC. Iridium NEXT, a second-generation constellation of the communications satellites, was completed on January 11, 2019.

Both systems, based in the United States, started in the late 1990s, but soon went into bankruptcy after failing to gain enough subscribers to fund launch costs. They are now operated by new owners who bought the assets for a fraction of their original cost and are now both planning to launch replacement constellations supporting higher bandwidth. Data speeds for current networks are between 2200 and 9600 bit/s using a satellite handset.

A third system was announced in 2022 when T-Mobile US and SpaceX announced a partnership to add satellite cellular service to Starlink Gen2 satellites that are to begin launching to orbit in late 2022. The service is aimed to provide dead-zone cell phone coverage across the US using existing midband PCS spectrum that T-Mobile owns.^[8] Cell coverage will begin with messaging and expand to include voice and limited data services later, with testing to begin in 2023. With Starlink Gen2 sats in low-Earth orbit using existing PCS spectrum, T-Mobile plans to be able to connect by satellite to ordinary mobile devices, unlike earlier satellite phones in the market which used specialized radios to connect to geosynchronous-orbit satellites, with characteristic long communications lag time.^[9] T-Mobile has offered to extend the offering globally if cellular carriers in other countries wish to exchange roaming services via T-Mobile partnership with SpaceX, with other carriers working with their regulators to enable midband communications landing rights on a country-by-country basis. Bandwidth will be limited to approximately 2 to 4 megabits per second spread across a very large cell coverage area; so 1000 to 2000 voice calls, or a greater number of text messages, can happen simultaneously in a cell. The size of a single coverage cell has not yet been specified.^[9]

Geotracking[edit]

LEO systems have the ability to track a mobile unit’s location using Doppler navigation from the satellite.^[10] However, this method can be inaccurate by tens of kilometers. On some Iridium hardware the coordinates can be extracted using AT commands, while recent Globalstar handsets will display them on the screen.^[11]

Most VSAT terminals can be reprogrammed in-field using AT-commands to bypass automatic acquisition of GPS coordinates and instead accept manually injected GPS coordinates.

One-way services[edit]

Some satellite phone networks provide a one-way paging channel to alert users in poor coverage areas (such as indoors) of the incoming call. When the alert is received on the satellite phone it must be taken to an area with better coverage before the call can be accepted.

Globalstar provides a one-way data uplink service, typically used for asset tracking.

Iridium operates a one-way pager service as well as the call alert feature.

Cost[edit]

While it is possible to obtain used handsets for the Thuraya, Iridium, and Globalstar networks for approximately US$200, the newest handsets are quite expensive. The Iridium 9505A, released in 2001, sold in March 2010 for over US$1,000.^[12] Satellite phones are purpose-built for one particular network and cannot be switched to other networks. The price of handsets varies with network performance. If a satellite phone provider encounters trouble with its network, handset prices will fall, then increase once new satellites are launched. Similarly, handset prices will increase when calling rates are reduced.

Among the most expensive satellite phones are BGAN terminals, often costing several thousand US dollars.^[13][14] These phones provide about 0.5 Mbit/s Internet and voice communications. Satellite phones are sometimes subsidised by the provider if one signs a post-paid contract, but subsidies are usually only a few hundred US dollars or less.

Since most satellite phones are built under license or the manufacturing of handsets is contracted out to OEMs, operators have a large influence over the selling price. Satellite networks operate under proprietary protocols, making it difficult for manufacturers to independently make handsets.

A startup is proposing the use of standard mobile phone technology in satellites to enable low bandwidth text message with satellites from cheap mobile phones.^[15]

Calling cost[edit]

The cost of making voice calls from a satellite phone varies from around $0.15 to $2 per minute, while calling them from landlines and regular mobile phones is more expensive. Costs for data transmissions (particularly broadband data) can be much higher. Rates from landlines and mobile phones range from $3 to $14 per minute with Iridium, Thuraya^[16] and Inmarsat being some of the most expensive networks to call. The receiver of the call pays nothing, unless they are being called via a special reverse-charge service.

Calls between different satellite phone networks are often very expensive, with calling rates of up to $15 per minute.

Calls from satellite phones to landlines are usually around $0.80 to $1.50 per minute unless special offers are used. Such promotions are usually bound to a particular geographic area where traffic is low.

Most satellite phone networks have pre-paid plans, with vouchers ranging from $100 to $5,000.

Virtual country codes[edit]

Satellite phones are usually issued with numbers in a special country calling code.

Inmarsat satellite phones are issued with codes +870. In the past, additional country codes were allocated to different satellites, but the codes +871 to +874 were phased out at the end of 2008 leaving Inmarsat users with the same country code, regardless of which satellite their terminal is registered with.^[17]

Low Earth orbit systems including some of the defunct ones have been allocated number ranges in the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Mobile Satellite System virtual country code +881. Iridium satellite phones are issued with codes +881 6 and +881 7. Globalstar, although allocated +881 8 and +881 9 use U.S. telephone numbers except for service resellers located in Brazil, which use the +881 range.

Small regional satellite phone networks are allocated numbers in the +882 code designated for «international networks» which is not used exclusively for satellite phone networks.

Legal restrictions[edit]

In some countries, possession of a satellite phone is illegal.^[18] Their signals will usually bypass local telecoms systems, hindering censorship and wiretapping attempts, which has led some intelligence agencies to believe that satellite phones aid terrorist activity.^[19] It is also common for restrictions to be in place in countries with oppressive governments regimes as a way to both expose subversive agents within their country and maximize the control of the information that makes it past their borders.^[20]

• China – Inmarsat became the first company permitted to sell satellite phones in 2016.^[21] China Telecom began selling satellite phones in 2018^[22] and six other satellite phone companies expressed their interest in entering the Chinese market shortly after.^[23]
• Cuba^[24][25]
• India – only Inmarsat-based satellite services are permitted within territories and areas under Indian jurisdiction. Importation and operation of all other satellite services, including Thuraya and Iridium, is illegal.^[26] International shipping is obliged to comply with Indian Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS) Order No. 02 of 2012 which prohibits the unauthorised import and operation of Thuraya, Iridium and other such satellite phones in Indian waters. The legislation to this effect is Section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act. International Long Distance (ILD) licences and No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued by Indian Department of Telecommunications (DOT) are mandatory for satellite communication services on Indian territory.^{[27][28][29][30]}
• Myanmar^[31]
• North Korea^[32] – The US Bureau of Diplomatic Security advises visitors that they have «no right to privacy in North Korea and should assume your communications are monitored»^[33] which excludes the possibility of satellite phone technology.
• Russia – in 2012, new regulations governing the use of satellite phones inside Russia or its territories were developed with the stated aim of fighting terrorism by enabling the Russian government to intercept calls.^[34] These regulations allow non-Russian visitors to register their SIM cards for use within Russian territory for up to six months.

Security concerns[edit]

All modern satellite phone networks encrypt voice traffic to prevent eavesdropping. In 2012, a team of academic security researchers reverse-engineered the two major proprietary encryption algorithms in use.^[35] One algorithm (used in GMR-1 phones) is a variant of the A5/2 algorithm used in GSM (used in common mobile phones), and both are vulnerable to cipher-text only attacks. The GMR-2 standard introduced a new encryption algorithm which the same research team also cryptanalysed successfully. Thus satellite phones need additional encrypting if used for high-security applications.

Use in disaster response[edit]

Most mobile telephone networks operate close to capacity during normal times, and large spikes in call volumes caused by widespread emergencies often overload the systems when they are needed most. Examples reported in the media where this has occurred include the 1999 İzmit earthquake, the September 11 attacks, the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake, the 2003 Northeast blackouts, Hurricane Katrina,^[36] the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse, the 2010 Chile earthquake, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Reporters and journalists have also been using satellite phones to communicate and report on events in war zones such as Iraq.

Terrestrial cell antennas and networks can be damaged by natural disasters. Satellite telephony can avoid this problem and be useful during natural disasters. Satellite phone networks themselves are prone to congestion as satellites and spot beams cover a large area with relatively few voice channels.

Integration into conventional mobile phones[edit]

In the early 2020s, manufacturers began to integrate satellite connectivity into smartphone devices for use in remote areas, out of the cellular network range.^[37][38] The satellite-to-phone services use L band frequencies, which are compatible with most modern handsets.^[39][40] However, due to the antenna limitations in the conventional phones, in the early stages of implementation satellite connectivity would be limited to the satellite messaging and satellite emergency services.^[41][42]

The Apple iPhone 14 can send emergency text messages via Globalstar satellites.^[43] Qualcomm announced a partnership that will allow supported Android phones, starting with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, to send and receive text messages via Iridium satellites.^[44][45] In 2022, T-Mobile formed a partnership to use Starlink services via existing LTE/5G NR spectrum.^[46][47][48] AST SpaceMobile aims to build a cellular space network from scratch. It will allow existing, unmodified smartphones to connect to satellites in areas with coverage gaps.^[49]

See also[edit]

• Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)
• Mobile-satellite service
• Satellite internet
• Telecommunications

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• University of Surrey pages with information on some satellite systems, including currently planned, and defunct proposals such as Teledesic (non-commercial)
• Satellite Phone FAQ (satellite phone services and equipment reviews, non-commercial)
• Satellite mobile system architecture (technical)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A satellite telephone, satellite phone or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio link through satellites orbiting the Earth instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do. Therefore, they can work in most geographic locations on the Earth’s surface, as long as open sky and the line-of-sight between the phone and the satellite are provided. Depending on the architecture of a particular system, coverage may include the entire Earth or only specific regions. Satellite phones provide similar functionality to terrestrial mobile telephones; voice calling, text messaging, and low-bandwidth Internet access are supported through most systems. The advantage of a satphone is that it can be used in such regions where local terrestrial communication infrastructures, such as landline and cellular networks, are not available.

Satphones are popular on expeditions into remote locations, hunting, fishing, maritime sector, humanitarian missions, business trips, and mining in hard-to-reach areas, where there is no reliable cellular service.^[1] Satellite telephones rarely get disrupted by natural disasters on Earth or human actions such as war, so they have proven to be dependable communication tools in emergency situations, when the local communications system can be compromised.^[2]

The mobile equipment, also known as a terminal, varies widely. Early satellite phone handsets had a size and weight comparable to that of a late-1980s or early-1990s mobile phone, but usually with a large retractable antenna. More recent satellite phones are similar in size to a regular mobile phone while some prototype satellite phones have no distinguishable difference from an ordinary smartphone.^[3][4]

A fixed installation, such as one used aboard a ship, may include large, rugged, rack-mounted electronics, and a steerable microwave antenna on the mast that automatically tracks the overhead satellites. Smaller installations using VoIP over a two-way satellite broadband service such as BGAN or VSAT bring the costs within the reach of leisure vessel owners. Internet service satellite phones have notoriously poor reception indoors, though it may be possible to get a consistent signal near a window or in the top floor of a building if the roof is sufficiently thin. The phones have connectors for external antennas that can be installed in vehicles and buildings. The systems also allow for the use of repeaters, much like terrestrial mobile phone systems.

In the early 2020s, various conventional mobile phones began to integrate satellite messaging connectivity and satellite emergency services for use in remote regions, where there is no reliable terrestrial network.

Satellite network[edit]

Satellite phone systems can be classified into two types: systems that use satellites in a high geostationary orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s surface, and systems that use satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), 640 to 1,120 kilometers (400 to 700 miles) above the Earth.

Geostationary satellites[edit]

Some satellite phones use satellites in geostationary orbit (GSO), which appear at a fixed position in the sky. These systems can maintain near-continuous global coverage with only three or four satellites, reducing the launch costs. The satellites used for these systems are very heavy (about 5000 kg) and expensive to build and launch. The satellites orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s surface; a noticeable delay is present while making a phone call or using data services due to the large distance from users. The amount of bandwidth available on these systems is substantially higher than that of the low Earth orbit (LEO) systems; all three active systems provide portable satellite Internet using laptop-sized terminals with speeds ranging from 60 to 512 kbit per second (kbps).

Geostationary satellite phones can only be used at lower latitudes, generally between 70 degrees north of the equator and 70 degrees south of the equator. At higher latitudes the satellite appears at such a low angle in the sky that radio frequency interference from terrestrial sources in the same frequency bands can interfere with the signal.

Another disadvantage of geostationary satellite systems is that in many areas—even where a large amount of open sky is present—the line-of-sight between the phone and the satellite is broken by obstacles such as steep hills and forest. The user will need to find an area with line-of-sight before using the phone. This is not the case with LEO services: even if the signal is blocked by an obstacle, one can wait a few minutes until another satellite passes overhead, but a GSO satellite may drop a call when line of sight is lost.

• ACeS: This former Indonesia-based small regional operator provided voice and data services in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia using a single satellite. It ceased operations in 2014.
• Inmarsat: The oldest satellite phone operator, a British company founded in 1979. It originally provided large fixed installations for ships, but has recently entered the market of hand-held phones in a joint venture with ACeS. The company operates eleven satellites. Coverage is available on most of the Earth, except polar regions.
• Thuraya: Established in 1997, United Arab Emirates-based Thuraya’s satellites provide coverage across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
• MSAT / SkyTerra: An American satellite-phone company that uses equipment similar to Inmarsat, but plans to launch a service using hand-held devices in the Americas similar to Thuraya’s.
• Terrestar: Satellite-phone system for North America.
• ICO Global Communications: An American satellite-phone company which has launched a single geosynchronous satellite, not yet active.

Low Earth orbit[edit]

Satphones may utilize satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The advantages include the possibility of providing worldwide wireless coverage with no gaps. LEO satellites orbit the Earth in high-speed, low-altitude orbits with an orbital time of 70–100 minutes, an altitude of 640 to 1,120 kilometers (400 to 700 miles). Since the satellites are not geostationary, they move with respect to the ground. A given satellite is only in view of a phone for a short time, so the call must be «handed off» electronically to another satellite when one passes beyond the local horizon. Depending on the positions of both the satellite and terminal, a usable pass of an individual LEO satellite will typically last 4–15 minutes on average.^[5] At least one satellite must have line-of-sight to every coverage area at all times to guarantee coverage; thus a constellation of satellites, typically 40 to 70, is required to maintain worldwide coverage.

• Globalstar: A network covering most of the world’s landmass using 48 active satellites. However, many areas of the Earth’s surface are left without coverage, since a satellite requires to be in range of an Earth station gateway. Satellites fly in an inclined orbit of 52 degrees, therefore polar regions cannot be covered. The network went into full commercial service in February 2000. A second-generation constellation consists of 24 low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. The launch of the second-generation constellation was completed on February 6, 2013.
• Iridium: A network operating 66 satellites in a polar orbit that claims to have coverage everywhere on Earth. Radio cross-links are used between satellites to relay data to the nearest satellite with a connection to an Earth station.^[6] Commercial service started in November 1998 and fell into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1999.^[7] In 2001, service was re-established by Iridium Satellite LLC. Iridium NEXT, a second-generation constellation of the communications satellites, was completed on January 11, 2019.

Both systems, based in the United States, started in the late 1990s, but soon went into bankruptcy after failing to gain enough subscribers to fund launch costs. They are now operated by new owners who bought the assets for a fraction of their original cost and are now both planning to launch replacement constellations supporting higher bandwidth. Data speeds for current networks are between 2200 and 9600 bit/s using a satellite handset.

A third system was announced in 2022 when T-Mobile US and SpaceX announced a partnership to add satellite cellular service to Starlink Gen2 satellites that are to begin launching to orbit in late 2022. The service is aimed to provide dead-zone cell phone coverage across the US using existing midband PCS spectrum that T-Mobile owns.^[8] Cell coverage will begin with messaging and expand to include voice and limited data services later, with testing to begin in 2023. With Starlink Gen2 sats in low-Earth orbit using existing PCS spectrum, T-Mobile plans to be able to connect by satellite to ordinary mobile devices, unlike earlier satellite phones in the market which used specialized radios to connect to geosynchronous-orbit satellites, with characteristic long communications lag time.^[9] T-Mobile has offered to extend the offering globally if cellular carriers in other countries wish to exchange roaming services via T-Mobile partnership with SpaceX, with other carriers working with their regulators to enable midband communications landing rights on a country-by-country basis. Bandwidth will be limited to approximately 2 to 4 megabits per second spread across a very large cell coverage area; so 1000 to 2000 voice calls, or a greater number of text messages, can happen simultaneously in a cell. The size of a single coverage cell has not yet been specified.^[9]

Geotracking[edit]

LEO systems have the ability to track a mobile unit’s location using Doppler navigation from the satellite.^[10] However, this method can be inaccurate by tens of kilometers. On some Iridium hardware the coordinates can be extracted using AT commands, while recent Globalstar handsets will display them on the screen.^[11]

Most VSAT terminals can be reprogrammed in-field using AT-commands to bypass automatic acquisition of GPS coordinates and instead accept manually injected GPS coordinates.

One-way services[edit]

Some satellite phone networks provide a one-way paging channel to alert users in poor coverage areas (such as indoors) of the incoming call. When the alert is received on the satellite phone it must be taken to an area with better coverage before the call can be accepted.

Globalstar provides a one-way data uplink service, typically used for asset tracking.

Iridium operates a one-way pager service as well as the call alert feature.

Cost[edit]

While it is possible to obtain used handsets for the Thuraya, Iridium, and Globalstar networks for approximately US$200, the newest handsets are quite expensive. The Iridium 9505A, released in 2001, sold in March 2010 for over US$1,000.^[12] Satellite phones are purpose-built for one particular network and cannot be switched to other networks. The price of handsets varies with network performance. If a satellite phone provider encounters trouble with its network, handset prices will fall, then increase once new satellites are launched. Similarly, handset prices will increase when calling rates are reduced.

Among the most expensive satellite phones are BGAN terminals, often costing several thousand US dollars.^[13][14] These phones provide about 0.5 Mbit/s Internet and voice communications. Satellite phones are sometimes subsidised by the provider if one signs a post-paid contract, but subsidies are usually only a few hundred US dollars or less.

Since most satellite phones are built under license or the manufacturing of handsets is contracted out to OEMs, operators have a large influence over the selling price. Satellite networks operate under proprietary protocols, making it difficult for manufacturers to independently make handsets.

A startup is proposing the use of standard mobile phone technology in satellites to enable low bandwidth text message with satellites from cheap mobile phones.^[15]

Calling cost[edit]

The cost of making voice calls from a satellite phone varies from around $0.15 to $2 per minute, while calling them from landlines and regular mobile phones is more expensive. Costs for data transmissions (particularly broadband data) can be much higher. Rates from landlines and mobile phones range from $3 to $14 per minute with Iridium, Thuraya^[16] and Inmarsat being some of the most expensive networks to call. The receiver of the call pays nothing, unless they are being called via a special reverse-charge service.

Calls between different satellite phone networks are often very expensive, with calling rates of up to $15 per minute.

Calls from satellite phones to landlines are usually around $0.80 to $1.50 per minute unless special offers are used. Such promotions are usually bound to a particular geographic area where traffic is low.

Most satellite phone networks have pre-paid plans, with vouchers ranging from $100 to $5,000.

Virtual country codes[edit]

Satellite phones are usually issued with numbers in a special country calling code.

Inmarsat satellite phones are issued with codes +870. In the past, additional country codes were allocated to different satellites, but the codes +871 to +874 were phased out at the end of 2008 leaving Inmarsat users with the same country code, regardless of which satellite their terminal is registered with.^[17]

Low Earth orbit systems including some of the defunct ones have been allocated number ranges in the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Mobile Satellite System virtual country code +881. Iridium satellite phones are issued with codes +881 6 and +881 7. Globalstar, although allocated +881 8 and +881 9 use U.S. telephone numbers except for service resellers located in Brazil, which use the +881 range.

Small regional satellite phone networks are allocated numbers in the +882 code designated for «international networks» which is not used exclusively for satellite phone networks.

Legal restrictions[edit]

In some countries, possession of a satellite phone is illegal.^[18] Their signals will usually bypass local telecoms systems, hindering censorship and wiretapping attempts, which has led some intelligence agencies to believe that satellite phones aid terrorist activity.^[19] It is also common for restrictions to be in place in countries with oppressive governments regimes as a way to both expose subversive agents within their country and maximize the control of the information that makes it past their borders.^[20]

• China – Inmarsat became the first company permitted to sell satellite phones in 2016.^[21] China Telecom began selling satellite phones in 2018^[22] and six other satellite phone companies expressed their interest in entering the Chinese market shortly after.^[23]
• Cuba^[24][25]
• India – only Inmarsat-based satellite services are permitted within territories and areas under Indian jurisdiction. Importation and operation of all other satellite services, including Thuraya and Iridium, is illegal.^[26] International shipping is obliged to comply with Indian Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS) Order No. 02 of 2012 which prohibits the unauthorised import and operation of Thuraya, Iridium and other such satellite phones in Indian waters. The legislation to this effect is Section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act. International Long Distance (ILD) licences and No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued by Indian Department of Telecommunications (DOT) are mandatory for satellite communication services on Indian territory.^{[27][28][29][30]}
• Myanmar^[31]
• North Korea^[32] – The US Bureau of Diplomatic Security advises visitors that they have «no right to privacy in North Korea and should assume your communications are monitored»^[33] which excludes the possibility of satellite phone technology.
• Russia – in 2012, new regulations governing the use of satellite phones inside Russia or its territories were developed with the stated aim of fighting terrorism by enabling the Russian government to intercept calls.^[34] These regulations allow non-Russian visitors to register their SIM cards for use within Russian territory for up to six months.

Security concerns[edit]

All modern satellite phone networks encrypt voice traffic to prevent eavesdropping. In 2012, a team of academic security researchers reverse-engineered the two major proprietary encryption algorithms in use.^[35] One algorithm (used in GMR-1 phones) is a variant of the A5/2 algorithm used in GSM (used in common mobile phones), and both are vulnerable to cipher-text only attacks. The GMR-2 standard introduced a new encryption algorithm which the same research team also cryptanalysed successfully. Thus satellite phones need additional encrypting if used for high-security applications.

Use in disaster response[edit]

Most mobile telephone networks operate close to capacity during normal times, and large spikes in call volumes caused by widespread emergencies often overload the systems when they are needed most. Examples reported in the media where this has occurred include the 1999 İzmit earthquake, the September 11 attacks, the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake, the 2003 Northeast blackouts, Hurricane Katrina,^[36] the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse, the 2010 Chile earthquake, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Reporters and journalists have also been using satellite phones to communicate and report on events in war zones such as Iraq.

Terrestrial cell antennas and networks can be damaged by natural disasters. Satellite telephony can avoid this problem and be useful during natural disasters. Satellite phone networks themselves are prone to congestion as satellites and spot beams cover a large area with relatively few voice channels.

Integration into conventional mobile phones[edit]

In the early 2020s, manufacturers began to integrate satellite connectivity into smartphone devices for use in remote areas, out of the cellular network range.^[37][38] The satellite-to-phone services use L band frequencies, which are compatible with most modern handsets.^[39][40] However, due to the antenna limitations in the conventional phones, in the early stages of implementation satellite connectivity would be limited to the satellite messaging and satellite emergency services.^[41][42]

The Apple iPhone 14 can send emergency text messages via Globalstar satellites.^[43] Qualcomm announced a partnership that will allow supported Android phones, starting with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, to send and receive text messages via Iridium satellites.^[44][45] In 2022, T-Mobile formed a partnership to use Starlink services via existing LTE/5G NR spectrum.^[46][47][48] AST SpaceMobile aims to build a cellular space network from scratch. It will allow existing, unmodified smartphones to connect to satellites in areas with coverage gaps.^[49]

See also[edit]

• Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)
• Mobile-satellite service
• Satellite internet
• Telecommunications

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• University of Surrey pages with information on some satellite systems, including currently planned, and defunct proposals such as Teledesic (non-commercial)
• Satellite Phone FAQ (satellite phone services and equipment reviews, non-commercial)
• Satellite mobile system architecture (technical)