Satellite phones connect to a satellite and it can take a few minutes. Please follow the instructions in your owner`s manual and make sure you have a clear view of the sky (a 360-degree view of the horizon also helps), that you remain still and that the antenna points upwards. If the phone hasn`t connected after four minutes, turn it off and then turn it back on outside. There are well-known providers of satellite connectivity. These are Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya and Globalstar. Each satellite phone device only works with a specific provider – which means that a Thuraya phone will not work on the Iridium network. Although Russia allows satellite phones, you need to get permission in advance and register your SIM card. SIM card registration is active for six months. Contact Roskomnadzor for more information. There are several cases where authorities confiscate the undeclared satellite phones of foreign travelers upon arrival in India. The official notice states: “All foreigners traveling to India are hereby informed that it is illegal to use/carry Thuraya or other such satellite phones in India.
Indian customs authorities can seize these phones and take legal action against the passenger in question. In 2012, the Civil Aviation Authority sent a memo to all Indian airports to detain passengers with satellite phones. Several OSAC members reported lawsuits against their travelers, including arrests, court dates, fines, and seizures for possession of satellite phones. As in the United States, ignorance of the law is not an acceptable defense. There are a number of countries in the world where the use of a satellite phone may require special permits or is considered illegal. Nigeria has banned satellite phones in its northeastern state of Borno after discovering that Boko Haram fighters had planned attacks with the phones. The legality of satellite phones in the rest of the country is unclear. Mobile equipment, also known as terminal, varies greatly. Early satellite phones were comparable in size and weight to a cell phone of the late 1980s or early 1990s, but usually with a large retractable antenna. Newer satellite phones are similar in size to a regular mobile phone, while some prototype satellite phones have no distinguishable difference from a regular smartphone. [1] [2] Satellite phones are popular when shipping to remote areas where terrestrial cellular services are not available.
Geostationary satellite phones can only be used at lower latitudes, usually 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 interference from terrestrial sources in the same frequency bands can interfere with the signal. Among the most expensive satellite phones are BGAN terminals, which often cost several thousand dollars. [26] [27] These phones provide broadband Internet and voice communications. Satellite phones are sometimes subsidized by the provider when you sign up for a postpaid contract, but the subsidies are usually only a few hundred dollars or less. India is one of the best-known places that prohibits the use of satellite phones, not only on land but also in its territorial waters. India`s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) claims that “satellite phones are only allowed with specific permission,” with DoT permits limited to Inmarsat phones. India has reportedly introduced and maintained regulation of satellite phones for national security purposes, particularly after Pakistani terrorists used satellite phone technology to communicate with their leaders during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Satellite phones have been proven to facilitate communication in remote destinations, making the devices ideal for nature adventure seekers, cruise ship employees, emergency preparedness and planning teams, or employees working in remote locations.
Although satellite phones are legal and even promoted in most countries, OSAC members should pay attention to overseas destinations that regulate or prohibit their use. The following report provides information on the limitations of satellite phones and serves as a general resource for the use (or non-use) of satellite phones abroad. Satellite phones are a fantastic tool for travelers who want to break away from the usual tourist routes and stay in touch or are simply so important to call for help in an emergency, but there are some countries in the world that don`t take the devices as nicely. More than anything else, a satellite phone is a necessary first aid tool, and every experienced traveler understands the safety it offers in all types of tourism. Your phone number is printed on a label attached to the side of your satellite rental phone, you can also find it on the user manual. Satellite phones generally provide call and text communication services and transmit data exclusively via satellite, with Globalstar, Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya being the most common satellite networks. The satellite network is either geostationary — 22,000 miles above the equator — or in low-Earth orbit (LEO), somewhere between 500 and 1,000 miles above Earth. Satellite phones do not depend on ground-based infrastructure that may not be present in remote locations or that could be damaged by natural disasters.
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