What Is a Satellite Phone? A satellite phone or satphone is a mobile phone that sends and receives calls using satellites rather than landlines or cellular broadcasting towers. A satellite phone only requires a clear line of sight to the sky. The advantage of a satellite phone is that it can complete calls from anywhere. A satellite phone can operate in the middle of the Sahara desert, at the top of Mount Everest, or from a clearing deep within a South African jungle. It is an indispensable tool for remote excursions of all kinds, and provides solid communication on the seas and in the air. A disadvantage of a satellite phone is a noticeable delay in conversations. The signal must first travel to the satellite , then to an earthbound gateway before being routed to the receiver. The receiver's response will follow the same path in reverse, taking equally long to reach the caller. Satellite minutes are also more expensive than cellular minutes.
