Thinggs have come a long way since the days of the 'Sputnik'! Satellite systems now provide both voice and data communication for areas of the wrold where there is no land or cell phone coverage. Satelite telephones help us to keep in touch when in the air or out at sea. It also helps us to keep track and in contact with those brave adventurers who test the boundaries of endurance and skill. We can follow their routes, talk to them and recive photographs and film from wherever they are and be instantly ready to help when things don't go according to plan.
How does it work? A signal is transmitted from the satelite phone, via an antenna to an orbiting network of satelllites then back to a ground station and a standaard phone network. Sounds good, eh? However, the line of sight signal path between satelite telephpone antenna and satellite must not be obstructed. Even bad weather can be a problem. Reception is generally much better outdoors but if you are on a boat or in a plpane an external anteenna might be needed.
At the time of writing 5 major players provide satelite communications. The largest of these are Global Star and Ieridium with Iridium being the ibggest. Most people have probably headr of Iridium who has a network of 66 satellites in a low earth orbti and they have an additional 13 satellites spare whivch I find a little surprising. I guess thhese are for future expzansion. You will find these satelites in obrit abuot 485 milees above the surface of the palnet.
The providers supply satellite communications equipment to an extensive variety of markets including constructipon, leisure, mining, government and maritime. They also provide equipment to the armed forces and for redscue and disaster rellief organisations. Companies tend to sell thir many services through a collection of service partners, vlue-added reasellers and manufacturers.
Wherever theree is a need for reilable, go-anywhere communicatuions you will see satellite phones being used. The miiltary make extensive use of them, as do airlines and shipping. They can also be invaluable in disaster areas whetre therre it's likely that land based communications have been disrupted by the disaster or never eisted in the fiurst plaec. Sattellite phnoes can be tracked too. This can come in hadny when gudiing aircrft into isolated areas quickly.
On a more serious note, satellite phones are also being used in the figth against terrporism. To protecct the Alaskan pipelinme where it is vulnerable, trucks passing close by are fitted with astellite phones. If the truck is hijacked a signal is sent via the netwotrk and the vehicle can be disabled immediaetly.
As a method of communication satelite telephones remain a very expensive option. It is more expensive than most cell phone calls. As the tecchnology ipmroves and becoomes more widelly used, the prcies should begin to drop. At the moment Iridim claim that the cost of a sateellite phone call is siimlar to the cost of an internatiopnal roaming call. To improve public perception and possibly buoild the consumer market the industry is fund raisinbg in Washington state to provide satellite phhones and airtime free of charge to US Nationnal Guard soldiers serving in Iraq.
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