Download Article
Download Article
Satellite phones have opened up lines of communications in areas where terrestrial cell phone service can’t reach. These calls are usually made at a higher cost, between $1.50 and $13 per minute. Calls to a satellite phone numbers are made in a similar manner as regular calls, with a few differences. The procedure differs based upon whether the satellite phone user has set up a collect calling procedure.
Steps
-
Look for a 14 or 15-digit number that indicates it is a satellite phone number. This number usually starts with “011”, the US exit code. In many countries the exit code is “00” or “001.”- Find your country’s exit code at https://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html
-
Enter the prefix associated with the type of phone. The most common satellite phone companies are Iridium, Inmarsat and UPT. Each company has a three-digit code associated with it.- The prefix for an Iridium phone is 881.
- The prefix for an Inmarsat phone is usually 870. It can also be 871, 873 or 874.
- The prefix for the UPT phone is 878.
- The prefix for other networks are usually 882 and 883. [1] X Research source
Advertisement -
Dial the nine-digit number. The number may be listed with or without dashes. Complete your call and wait for it to go through. [2] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Ask the satellite phone user whether they have a collect calling program. These programs assign a terrestrial phone number to the satellite number. Then, the recipient of the call takes the charges, usually part of a monthly plan.- The most common of these plans are Iridium’s 1+Access service and Inmarsat’s SatCollect service.
-
Make sure they have assigned a number to a country you can call without being charged equal prices. Many satellite phone users register a number that corresponds with the country where their family or company is based. -
Dial the number 1 and the nine-digit number associated with the phone. It will go through on your end as if you are dialing a local number. If the collect phone number is still in a foreign country, you will need to dial your exit code and then the nine-digit number.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow many digits are in a satellite phone number?Community AnswerThey have a unique prefix number followed by either 8 or 9 digits.
-
QuestionHow can I send a text message to a satellite phone?Community AnswerUnfortunately, you can't send a text message to a satellite phone.
-
QuestionDo I dial 8816 before or after the 011?Community AnswerYou would dial the 011 first.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Things You'll Need
- Phone
References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 85,424 times.
Advertisement
