The key difference between mobile and satellite phone devices.

                                                                                         

Communication plays a vital part in today’s world. In all walks of life from day to day business to crisis management situations we require the ability to make contact with others who may be just minutes away or across the other side of the world. We now take the ability to pick up a phone and talk to someone for granted.

Over the last 20 years we have started to become more and more familiar with satellite technology as it plays its part in providing us with television and navigation in our vehicles and mobile phones.

Satellite technology also now plays a vital role in communication in remote locations.

The world is a large place and sometimes standard mobile phone technology isn’t sufficient due to a lack of cell masts in the area of transmission. This is true in areas such as deserts, jungles or at sea. This is where satellite phones come into their own.

Unlike standard mobile phones, Satellite phones communicate using a number of satellites that orbit the earth. They pass signals between each other to ensure that communication can reach the recipient devices on the ground. It is still important, however, that the satellite phone handsets have a direct line of sight to the satellite. This means that use of the handsets in a dense area, such as a city centre with tall skyscrapers, or underground use such as a cave is often restricted. A break in the line of sight to the satellite can mean that the voice signal can become distorted or even broken.

Satellite phones have evolved somewhat in the last 20 years. The first phones were introduced in the 90’s and often found to be problematic. Since then the two satellite operators, Iridium and Globalstar have built up a client base of over 180,000 clients.

So, in summary the biggest difference between the satellite phone and the mobile phone is the infrastructure that they operate on. Rather than using cell masts separated by relatively small differences the Satellite phones communicate directly with the network of Satellites that orbit the earth around 48,000km above the earth.

About the author:
Track 24 provide innovative global tracking and crisis management solutions. The Track 24 portfolio of products includes the Satellite Phone and Nomad personal tracking and communication devices.


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