6 Features to Check Before Buying a Satellite Phone

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Remember that memorable scene in “Jurassic Park III” when Paul and Amanda are reunited with their son, Eric? Eric reveals he knew his parents had arrived on the island because he heard his father’s satellite phone ringing.

Then, in the tense silence that follows the realization that Paul no longer has the phone—he lent it to their mercenary guide, Nash, who was just devoured by a dinosaur—the satellite phone’s ringtone echoes again. Moments later, the terrifying Spinosaurus appears, the phone ringing from inside its stomach.

You can’t be certain whether a satellite phone (such as a Thuraya XT-Lite) would still function inside a dinosaur’s stomach. However, you can be confident it will work almost anywhere else. Satellite phones are specifically engineered for reliable communication in the most remote locations, even if not on a fictional island like Isla Sorna.

6 Features to Consider in a Satellite Phone

There are many types of satellite phones, just as there are countless variants of cellular phones. Below are six key features to evaluate before purchasing satellite equipment. Your specific application or use-case scenario will determine which features matter most.

Satellite Operator’s Coverage

Satellite phones connect through different operators, each offering distinct coverage areas. Coverage depends on the number of satellites, their orbital positions, inclination, and overall configuration.

Some operators, such as Iridium, deliver true global coverage, while others, like Thuraya, focus on approximately 160 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Global coverage may seem ideal, yet it is not always necessary. If you work on an oil rig in the desert or an offshore platform near the equator, reliable regional coverage is far more important. Choosing global service when you do not need it means paying extra for capabilities you will never use.

Before purchasing, verify that the chosen operator provides strong, dependable service in your intended operational area.

Full Walk and Talk

Look for a satellite phone that maintains a signal and supports calls while you are walking or moving. This requires both robust network coverage and a phone equipped with an omnidirectional antenna capable of acquiring satellites even during motion.

Voice Call Quality

Satellite phones rely on voice codecs to convert your speech into digital signals for transmission and back into audio at the receiving end. Higher codec transmission rates deliver clearer sound. All else being equal, a 4 kbps codec will provide noticeably better voice quality than the standard 2.4 kbps.

Shock and Ingress Protection

Depending on your environment, you may need protection against shocks, vibrations, dust, and water. Devices tested for extreme conditions typically carry IP and MIL-STD-810 ratings. A high IP rating combined with MIL-STD-810G certification indicates full ruggedness; otherwise, you can reduce costs by selecting a model without these specifications.

IP Ratings

The IP rating system, developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission, uses two digits to indicate protection against solids and liquids. The first digit (1–6) measures resistance to solids, while the second (1–8) measures water resistance. An IP68 rating, for example, means the device is dust-tight and can withstand immersion beyond one meter for over 30 minutes.

MIL-STD-810

The MIL-STD-810 standards, used by the U.S. military, evaluate equipment performance under extreme temperatures, humidity, sand, dust, shock, vibration, and corrosion. A MIL-STD-810G rating confirms the phone has passed all 29 rigorous tests in this series.

Battery Life and Talk Time

Long battery life is essential when working far from power sources. For an entry-level model like the Thuraya XT-Lite, 6 hours of talk time and 80 hours of standby time offer impressive endurance for most field applications.

Price and Cost of Operations

Device price and ongoing airtime costs remain important considerations. After identifying your must-have features, compare options to find the solution that delivers the best value for your specific needs.

Before You Buy a Satellite Phone

Whether you need satellite phones for work, personal use, or to support a humanitarian aid organization’s SATCOM network, first compile a clear list of required features. Consider coverage, walk-and-talk capability, battery life, voice quality, ruggedness, and total cost of ownership before making your purchase.

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