How much is a Satellite Phone: should you buy one?
How much is a Satellite Phone today? Why are they trending now?
A modern satellite phone is a reliable type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell towers. Satellite mobile phones can provide reliable voice and data communication in remote areas that have no or limited cellular or landline coverage. They can also be used in emergency situations when the regular communication infrastructure is wiped out or compromised for satellite calling.
Please consider an emergency satellite phone especially with hurricane season approaching!
However, satellite phones are not always cheap devices. They sometimes come with a higher upfront cost and a recurring service fee that depends on the network provider and the plan chosen.
In this guide, we will answer how much a satellite phone costs as of 1/28/2024, what factors affect the price, and what benefits and challenges they offer compared to other communication options.
The Cost of a Satellite Phone in 2024
The cost of a sat phone varies depending on the model, the features, and the service provider. In 2024, a new satellite phone will cost anywhere from $350 to $1600. Used satellite mobile phones can be found cheaper, but they do not come with a warranty and may not have the same modern features as a new satphone.
Some of the features that affect the price of a satellite phone include:
- Durability: Satellite phones are designed to withstand harsh environments and weather conditions. They are usually water-resistant, dust-proof, shock-proof, and temperature-resistant. Some models also meet military standards for durability and ingress protection.
- Battery life: Satellite phones need to have a long battery life to ensure reliable communication in remote areas where power sources may be scarce or unavailable. The battery life of a satellite phone depends on the usage and the network conditions, but it typically ranges from 3 to 9 hours of talk time and 30 to 160 hours of standby time.
- Display: Satellite phones have different types of displays, such as monochrome, color, or touch screen. The display affects the usability and the functionality of the device, as well as the power consumption and the cost.
- Antenna: Satellite phones have different types of antennas, such as retractable, fold-out, or omni-directional. The antenna affects the signal strength and the quality of the communication, as well as the portability and the aesthetics of the device.
- GPS: Some satellite phones have built-in GPS capabilities that allow users to track their location, navigate, or send SOS alerts with their coordinates. GPS can be useful for safety and convenience purposes, but it also consumes more battery power and increases the cost of the device.
- Interfaces: Satellite phones have different types of interfaces, such as USB, Bluetooth, audio jack, or SIM card slot. The interfaces affect the compatibility and the functionality of the device, as well as the data connectivity and speed.
- Data connectivity: Some satellite phones can provide data connectivity in addition to voice communication. Data connectivity can be useful for sending text messages, emails, or accessing the internet. However, data connectivity is usually slow (around 2.4 Kbps) and expensive compared to cellular or broadband services.
The Cost of a Satellite Phone Service Plan
The cost of a satellite phone service plan depends on the network provider and the plan chosen.
There are four major satellite phone network providers in 2024: Iridium, Inmarsat, Globalstar, and Thuraya. Each provider has its own coverage area, network quality, device compatibility, and pricing structure.
The coverage area of a satellite phone network provider is determined by the number and the position of its satellites. Iridium has the widest coverage area, as it operates 66 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites that cover every inch of the globe.
Inmarsat has a smaller coverage area, as it operates three geostationary (GEO) satellites that cover most regions except for the polar areas. Globalstar has a similar coverage area to Inmarsat, as it operates 24 LEO satellites that cover most regions except for some parts of Africa and Asia.
Thuraya has the smallest coverage area, as it operates two GEO satellites that cover Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The network quality of a satellite phone network provider is determined by the reliability and the clarity of its signal.
Iridium has the most reliable network quality, as its LEO satellites provide consistent signal strength regardless of location or weather conditions. Iridium satellite phones are in high demand!
Inmarsat has a good network quality, as its GEO satellites provide stable signal strength in most regions except for high latitudes or mountainous areas. Inmarsat satellite phones are very popular so far this year!
Globalstar has a fair network quality, as its LEO satellites provide variable signal strength depending on location and network congestion.
Thuraya has a poor network quality, as its GEO satellites provide weaker signal strength in some regions or under certain weather conditions.
The device compatibility of a satellite phone network provider is determined by the frequency and the protocol of its signal. Iridium, Inmarsat, and Globalstar use the L-band frequency, which is compatible with most satellite phones. Thuraya uses the C-band frequency, which is compatible with only a few satellite phones. Each provider also has its own proprietary protocol, which means that a satellite phone can only work with the network provider that it is designed for.
The pricing structure of a satellite phone service provider is determined by the type and the duration of the service plan. There are three types of service plans: prepaid, monthly, and annual. Prepaid plans allow users to buy a certain amount of minutes in advance and use them within a specified period of time. Monthly plans allow users to pay a fixed fee every month and get a certain amount of minutes or unlimited minutes. Annual plans allow users to pay a discounted fee once a year and get a certain amount of minutes or unlimited minutes.
The duration of a service plan affects the cost per minute and the expiration date of the minutes. Prepaid plans usually have the highest cost per minute and the shortest expiration date, ranging from 30 days to 2 years. Monthly plans usually have a lower cost per minute and no expiration date, but they require a minimum contract term, ranging from 3 months to 2 years. Annual plans usually have the lowest cost per minute and no expiration date, but they require a one-time payment upfront.
The cost of a satellite phone service plan varies depending on the network provider and the plan chosen, but it typically ranges from $40 to $50 for a 10-minute plan to $150 to $200 for an unlimited plan per month. Some providers also charge activation fees, termination fees, or roaming fees depending on the plan.
The Benefits and Challenges of a Satellite Phone
A satellite phone can offer some benefits and drawbacks compared to other communication options, such as cellular phones, landline phones, or internet services. Some of the benefits of a satellite phone include:
- Global coverage: A satellite phone can provide voice and data communication in any part of the world, regardless of the availability or the quality of terrestrial infrastructure. This can be useful for travelers, explorers, adventurers, or professionals who work in remote areas or regions with poor or unreliable coverage.
- Emergency sat phone & preparedness: A satellite phone can provide reliable communication in emergency situations when the regular communication infrastructure is damaged or overloaded due to natural disasters, wars, terrorist attacks, or civil unrest. This can be useful for safety and rescue purposes, as well as for coordination and information sharing.
- Privacy and security: A satellite phone can provide secure communication that is less vulnerable to interception, hacking, or tracking by third parties. This can be useful for confidential or sensitive purposes, such as business, military, or diplomatic affairs.
Some of the potential drawbacks of a satellite phone include:
- Sat phone cost: A satellite phone can be very expensive to buy and to use compared to other communication options. The upfront cost of a device can be several times higher than that of a cellphone or a landline phone. The recurring cost of a service plan can be several times higher than that of a cellular plan or an internet plan.
- Reduced performance compared to modern smartphones: A satellite phone can provide low performance in terms of voice quality, data speed, and battery life compared to other communication options. The voice quality can be affected by signal latency, interference, or distortion due to atmospheric conditions or obstacles. The data speed can be very slow compared to cellular or broadband services. The battery life can be very short compared to cellular phones or landline phones.
- Limited functionality: A satellite phone can provide limited functionality in terms of features, applications, and compatibility compared to other mobile communication options. The features can be basic or outdated compared to modern cellular phones or landline phones. The applications can be limited or unavailable compared to internet services. The compatibility can be restricted or incompatible with other devices or networks.
Final notes on sat phone costs and services
Satellite phones do provide reliable voice and data communication in remote areas that have no or limited cellular or landline coverage. They can also be used in emergency situations when the regular communication infrastructure is damaged or gone. They can be your Lifeline.
However, satellite phones are not always cheap devices. They come with a upfront cost and a recurring service fee that depends on the network provider and the plan chosen, similar to normal smartphones.
In 2024, a new satellite phone will cost anywhere from $350 to $1800. The monthly or yearly minute plans will cost anywhere from $40 to $50 for a 10-minute plan to $150 to $200 for an unlimited plan per month.
Satellite phones do offer benefits and advantages compared to other communication options, if they exist at all in the area you are in. Some of the benefits include global coverage, emergency preparedness, privacy and security.
Before choosing and buying a satellite phone, it is important to compare different models and features important to you.
More information on the current deals and top sat phones can be found at Satellite Mobile Phones