Iridium Satellite Communications

If you need Global Service and 100% availability, you should choose Iridium. Iridium enables communications everywhere.
Iridium Satellite Communication is the only Satellite service provider to offer truly global communications. Coverage includes Oceans, Polar Regions and Airways.

How Is Iridium Truly Global?

Iridium has a series of 66 low-earth orbiting satellites (LEOs) which are positioned in 6 orbital planes of 11 satellites. Each satellite is positioned evenly apart. Each satellite travels at an amazing speed of 16,832 miles per hour (that is not a typo) which means that it only takes 100 minutes for each satellite to fully orbit the Earth! As these satellites move so quickly, when making a voice or data connection you will be transferred from one satellite to the next in order to maintain a secure, high quality connection at all times.

During the connection between your Iridium device and the LEOs you will be relayed to other satellites including ones operating from the ground. Iridium is a very dynamic communication provider resulting in a product that is extremely reliable no matter where you are.

What Services can I use From Iridium?

Iridium networks support global digital telephone, fax and data services. This includes the ability to access the Internet, e-mail and sending/receiving SMS messages.

Quality Isn't What I Expected

Iridium is a satellite commmunications provider. In order to acheive a network connection your ariel for your devide needs to be outside and at a point where the sky is as visible as possible. The Iridium network isn't suitable if you are trying to use a 9555 in a cave but it will work if you have an external antenna attached to receive a signal.

Can I browse youtube while sailing?

We would not recommend it. Ever. Iridium isn't intended to be used for general Internet browsing. Instead it is meant to be used for communications (E-Mail) and small amounts of data transfer. It is possible to browse web sites whilst using the Iridium devices such as the 9555 as a modem but bills could become quite expensive.

I've only used e-mails. Why have I ran out of Airtime?

E-Mails can sometimes be very large in file size. Formatting such as font size, colour etc can make e-mails bulky. Some people have even been known to receive family photographs not realising how much this could cost.

We recommend you using our e-mail compression service - G-Comm Mail. This will configure your e-mail client (Windows only) to send plain text e-mails and your custom e-mail address will only be able to receive plain text e-mails without relying on friends and family to remember. Better yet, G-Comm Mail's servers are configured to communicate properly with the Iridium networks. - We recently conducted some tests on other e-mail services. Read the report here.

To Rent or Buy?

It doesn't matter, G Comm have both options covered. We have new phones available at excellent prices and all of our rental phones are of a high standard.
Our Iridium rentals are always kept at a high standard to ensure you receive a quality product.