Iridium Satellite Phones

Iridium Satellites

Iridium Satellite Phone Logo

Iridium offer a totally global network using a network of 66 low orbiting satellites, this keeps the call quality high and the delay on the line low. With an Iridium satellite phone you can place calls from the middle of an ocean and the network routes the call via the Iridium satellite network to the nearest ground station (unlike Globalstar which can only be used "near" land).

Note: There is a lot of misinformation about the actual bandwidth of a normal Iridium data connection

A wide variety of Iridium phones are available including portable phones such as the Iridium 9555. Fixed satellite phones are also avaialble such as the Iridium 9522-P and some larger units such as the Eurocom / Skanti / Sailor fixed Iridium phones

Iridium Coverage

Iridium Satellite Network Coverage graphic

As you can see from the animated graphic, the orbiting nature of the Iridium satellites means there is global coverage. However, Iridium state that the system cannot be used in a number of countries including Poland, North Korea, Northern Sri Lanka. However, opinion varies as to how well this is enforced in practice.

Iridium satellites pass overhead approximately every 7 minutes and the network automatically hands off to the next nearest satellite - so line drops should be rare as long as you have a strong signal and a clear view of the sky. At any one time it should be possible for the phone to "see" a number of iridium satellites.

Iridium Handheld Satellite Phones

Please click on the graphics for more information or to purchase:

Iridium 9575 Extreme

Iridium 9575 closeup view

Iridium's latest handheld portable satellite phone, with inbuilt GPS tracking! Find out more about the Iridium 9575 Extreme Buy Online>>

Iridium 9555

Iridium 9555 closeup view

A reliable handheld portable satellite phone, find out more about the Iridium 9555 satellite phone. Buy Online>>

Iridium GO!

Iridium GO! Closeup View

A small and lightweight global satellite device, find out more about the Iridium GO!. Buy Online>>

Iridium Fixed Install Satellite Phones

New Model Iridium 9522-P

Iridium 9522 fixed phone

MailASail's own fixed install Iridium satellite phone, the Iridium 9522-P Buy Online>>

Iridium Sailor SC4000

The Iridium Sailor SSC4000 satellite phone system, including Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) and multiple phone lines.

Iridium Midband Marine Internet

Iridium Pilot - now end of life

For broadband-like data connections and multiple phone lines, find out more about the Iridium Pilot

Iridium Certus 100

For the latest in mobile personal communicators with upgraded audio quality, find out more about Iridium Certus 100 Buy Online>>

Iridium Certus 100 Go Exec

Coming soon to our website - limited stock available now!

Contact us for more details or to place an order

Iridium Certus 200

For the high-speed maritime data connections and upgraded audio quality, find out more about Iridium Certus 200 Buy Online>>

Iridium Midband Land Internet

Iridium Certus 100

For the latest in mobile personal communicators with upgraded audio quality, find out more about Iridium Certus 100 Buy Online>>

Iridium High Speed Marine Broadband

Iridium Certus 700

For the highest broadband-like data connections upgraded audio quality, find out more about Iridium Certus 700 Buy Online>>

Running Costs

Base call costs are around $1.50/min flat rate to any normal phone, and around $1/min to another Iridium phone (33% discount on Iridium to Iridium calls). These drop to around $1/min flat rate for higher volume users.

Iridium Accessories

Serial to USB Adaptor

Serial to USB adaptor

The Iridium datakit is supplied with a "Serial" connector. Most laptops sold these days do not have this connector and so an adaptor to convert to USB will be required.

Our adaptors are well tested and have proved very reliable and easy to configure (always a nice feature when you are 1,000 miles from the nearest computer shop). You can also easily use more than one adaptor if required (for example if you need a second for a GPS unit, or an SSB weather system, etc)

Other Iridium Accessories

Iridium External Marine Antennas

External Iridium antennas make a huge difference to reception and the Iridium satellite phone performance. Click here for Iridium Antennas

Looking for accessories, spares and extras for your Iridium phone. Click here for Iridium Accessories

Summary

Iridium remains one of the most popular and cost effective ways to get a totally global and portable satellite phone. The Iridium 9555 phone is small enough to be kept in a grab bag and in the unlikely event you should need to abandon ship in a hurry you have a reliable method to communicate for help.

Unsure which model Iridium you have? Take a look at our comparison page for Iridium handheld phones: http://www.mailasail.com/Communication/Iridium-Handheld-Sat-Phones-Overview

Thuraya offer cheaper equipment and calls, and faster internet access - but they can't offer global access like the Iridium system, and won't work (well) offshore