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A satellite phone or satphone is a phone that sends and receives calls with the use of satellites rather than telephones or cellular broadcasting towers. A sat mobile phones only requires a clear vision of the sky. The advantage of a satellite phone is that it can totally complete calls from anywhere. A satellite phone can operate in the core of the Sahara desert, at the top of Mount Everest, or from a clearing deep-blue within a South African jungle. It is an essential tool for isolated ventures of all kinds, and provides good communication on the seas and in the air.

A disadvantage of a satellite phone is visible delay in conversations. The network must first pass through to the satellite, go back to an earthbound gateway before being routed to the recipient. The recipient's answer will will go to the same path in reverse, which takes time to get to the caller. Satellite minutes are also much more expensive rather than cellphone minutes.

However, these drawbacks are extraneous when considering the function that a satellite phone provides. It can create a link to people from places where no other link is available. It also allows loved ones to keep in touch, like the researchers, adventurers and those in the military, and provide support communication in disasters when cell phone towers or landlines may not be working.

The three main satellite networks at present are Iridium, Globalstar and Thuraya. Iridium makes use of low orbiting satellites that reduce communications delays, but the more important is, it is the only present satellite reception that gives network globally. Rival Globalstar covers about 80% of the earth's landmasses, excluding northern and southern polar regions, while Thuraya covers some parts of India, Asia, Africa, the entire Middle East and Europe.

For those who only wish to use a satellite phone on rare occasions, you can hire instead of purchasing. Hiring rates start at almost US$40 per week, but this doesn't include talk time, which can cost as high as $1.75 per minute. If buying a satellite phone outright, an agreement is important with a satellite network, or pre-paid cards may be bought. Minutes are inexpensive with a contract than when renting or purchasing prepaid, but are still expensive than cell phone minutes.

Satellite phones range costs according to reception areas. Iridium phones are more expensive because they can make calls from anywhere in the world. Another newest entry-level Iridium sat phone sells for US$1,275, while other network mobile phones start out at about half that price, and can be found for a lesser price. Generally, because satellite phones are so expensive, they are often purchased used.