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At Global Telesat Communications, we offer Iridium, Inmarsat and Thuraya Satellite Phones, which are ideal for fulfilling voice and SMS requirements, in remote locations. Some of our Satellite Phones provide data services although the speeds are very slow and only suitable for plain text emails. If you are planning on regularly transferring large amounts of data a satellite broadband terminal may be more suitable.
If you are looking to purchase a satellite phone but don't know where to start, our buying guide is here to help. The following information is designed to help you pick the right satellite phone and airtime options for your requirements.
Our Satellite Phones:
We currently provide Iridium, Inmarsat and Thuraya Satellite Phones. Read about our available satellite phones, to find the right handset for your requirements: Additionally, most of our Satellite Phones are available to rent for short-term requirements, find out more below:
Iridium Satelllite Phones
The Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone and the Iridium 9575 Extreme Satellite Phone (pictured), are available to purchase or rent.
Both Iridium Satellite Phones offer voice, SMS and low-speed internet capabilities anywhere in the world and designed to withstand hard weather conditions, with an IP65 jet water resistant rating. The Iridium 9575 Extreme also offers SOS functions at the push of a button!
Inmarsat Satelllite Phones
The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 Satellite Phone is available to purchase or rent.
The IsatPhone 2 Satellite Phone offers voice, tracking and navigation capabilities anywhere across the globe, excluding the poles. It also has an SOS button for emergency situations. The Inmarsat IsatPhone has an IP65 jet water resistant rating to withstand rugged environments.
Thuraya Satellite Phones
The Thuraya Satellite Phones available are the Thuraya XT-LITE, Thuraya XT-PRO, Thuraya XT-PRO Dual and Thuraya X5 Touch. They provide voice and messaging capabilities across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East.
The Thuraya XT-PRO Dual and Thuraya X5 Touch provide dual-mode satellite and GSM connectivity, while the Thuraya XT-LITE and Thuraya XT-PRO offer cost-effective solutions for satellite communications.
Rental vs Purchase
Most often satellite technology is used for emergency purposes, or keeping in touch while in remote locations with little to no standard phone reception. If you only venture into such areas occasionally or even just a one-off trip, then it can be impractical to buy a phone outright and set up all the necessary contracts or arrange for top-ups.
Satellite phones range in price from £302* to £963* and terminals can be upwards of £4,000* with airtime costs in addition. As a result, for short-term or infrequent usage, many users find that our rental services offer the best value for money, particularly as they are the only way to obtain a true “pay as you go” service, where you only pay for the airtime that you use. Alternatively, if you do have a regular need to have an emergency lifeline, or frequently travel into isolated locations, purchasing a satellite phone can be worthwhile in the long-run. The price of satellite technology has fallen significantly in recent years meaning that it can quickly pay for itself if you use it several months of the year.
| Service | Rent | Purchase |
| Satellite Phone Cost | From £7.50 per day | From £400 |
| Airtime Cost | From £1 per minute | Depends upon the network |
| Handset | Free Return after Rental | Own the handset |
| Minimum Duration | 7 Days | 30 Days, with prepaid airtime |
| Satellite Phones | View Rentals > | View Purchase > |
Satellite Phone, Terminal or Wi-Fi Hotspot?
If you do wish to rent from us, then you will need to decide what device would be best for you. This naturally will depend on what your key requirements are.
If you need equipment for:
- Making voice calls
- Keeping in touch with family/the office
- Emergency lifeline in a remote location
Our satellite phones are very portable and the time from powering on, to dialling, to call connecting is faster than the same on a terminal or hotspot (though terminals and hotspots can also make calls). The rental cost is also lower, so they are more suitable if voice is your key concern.
If you need equipment for:
- Sending and receiving emails
- Sending and receiving data
In addition to the sending and receiving of emails and data, if you require web-browsing capabilities:
While satellite phones can technically create and operate a data connection, the speed is incredibly slow and they can only retrieve very small files, so in practical terms, they are only good for the sending and receiving of GRIB weather data files. Terminals and hotspots on the other hand are able to facilitate the sending and receiving of emails, as well as some web browsing.** Our rental satellite terminal offers speeds of up to 492 kbps and up to 128 kbps for streaming IP used for live video transmission.
Please note that even the only terminal to match basic broadband speeds one might experience on their home computer; is the Kymeta terminal. Please do not rent or purchase a satellite terminal with a view to replacing your own broadband service unless there is no internet service available in the area you intend to use it in, as data costs can run very high if left unchecked.
In addition to the sending and receiving of emails and data, if you require web-browsing capabilities:
While satellite phones can technically create and operate a data connection, the speed is incredibly slow and they can only retrieve very small files, so in practical terms, they are only good for the sending and receiving of GRIB weather data files. Terminals and hotspots on the other hand are able to facilitate the sending and receiving of emails, as well as some web browsing.** Our rental satellite terminal offers speeds of up to 492 kbps and up to 128 kbps for streaming IP used for live video transmission.
Please note that even the only terminal to match basic broadband speeds one might experience on their home computer; is the Kymeta terminal. Please do not rent or purchase a satellite terminal with a view to replacing your own broadband service unless there is no internet service available in the area you intend to use it in, as data costs can run very high if left unchecked.
Which satellite network will suit me best?
Currently Iridium is the only truly global network, offering 100% worldwide coverage. Inmarsat comes close, with near global coverage excluding the poles. We also recommend Iridium over Inmarsat if you intend to make an Atlantic crossing, as Inmarsat’s satellites have weaker coverage mid-Atlantic, as it is the crossover point of two of their satellites’ network areas.
Thuraya offers a reliable coverage over Europe, Central Africa and large parts of Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia as well as Australia.
Globalstar offers voice coverage over most land covered areas across the globe and has the best voice quality, plus fast connection to the satellite network, as it has the most modern satellite constellation, making it an ideal network for UK/Europe customers.
Take a look at our for more detailed information.
Rental Terms and Conditions
Prior to taking out the rental of our Satellite devices, please read the
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Thuraya Satellite Hotspots
The Thuraya SatSleeve+ and Thuraya SatSleeve Hospot offers coverage across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East.
The Thuraya SatSleeve+ transforms your phone into a satellite smartphone with Thuraya connectivity, to access voice, SMS and email capabilities. Similarly, the Thuraya SatSleeve Hotspot can be paired with your phone to enable satellite connectivity, but without needing to physically dock your phone to the hotspot.
