Globalstar vs Iridium | Which Network Is Best For Sailors?
Satellite phones provide coverage over large swathes of the Earth and, as a result, are particularly useful to sailors.
Depending on the satellite constellation placed in orbit by the system, they may provide complete or only partial coverage.
Two of the most well-known networks are Globalstar and Iridium. This article is going to compare them side-by-side so you can pick which suits you best.
At a Glance:
1️⃣ The satellites receive the call from the phone and transfer it to a terrestrial station, routed through that country’s phone networks.2️⃣ This means that some countries can restrict their use.
3️⃣ The Globalstar network covers North America, Europe, and Australia. The Iridium network covers the whole planet.
Before we kick off the comparison, check out our guide on using a satellite phone at sea to understand the practicality of satellite phones.
🌎 Globalstar Overview
The following provides an overview of the Globalstar network.
Satellite Network
The Globalstar network consists of 40 ground stations that receive the signal from the 25 overflying satellites and transfer these to the local telephone networks.
The smaller size of the Globalstar network means that there is not as much coverage provided compared to Iridium.
Services And Products
Globalstar services include the following:
- Voice Telephony
- SMS text messaging
- Direct Dial-Up Internet
- Internet Broadband
- Short-burst messages that are mobile originated.
- A geolocation function accurate to within 30 km.
Globalstar has teamed up with Apple and offers satellite communication on the latest generation of iPhones.
This is only available in areas where Globalstar provides Network coverage. North America is the primary market in which this service is offered.
🪐 Iridium Overview
The following provides an overview of the Iridium network.
Satellite Network
The Iridium satellite network comprises 66 satellites in low earth orbit (LEO).
These lower orbiting satellites (485 miles high) are close to the Earth and, in theory, should provide a superior signal compared to the other systems.
The LEO satellites rotate relative to the Earth in a north/south direction.
Because they move in a direction relative to the Earth’s rotation, they are called non-geostationary orbits.
A unique feature of the Iridium network is that coverage includes the North and South Poles. The Iridium satellite network has the most extensive coverage of the two systems.
At all times, four Iridium satellites are “cross-linked,” providing backup in case of failure.
The downside of LEO constellations is that the signals are subject to ionospheric interference at low latitudes.
Iridium uses L-Band frequencies more resilient to weather events than other systems.
Services And Products
Iridium offers an extensive range of products, some listed below.
- Animal tracking
- Asset tracking and surveillance
- Emergency SOS transmissions
- Maritime On board communication
- Satellite broadband internet connectivity
- Vehicle tracking systems
- Voice services
⚖️ Coverage Comparison
Satellite phone companies are required to license in all countries where they provide a service.
For political reasons, some countries resist satellite phone operators. The result is that even though there is satellite coverage, satellite phones cannot operate in those areas.
You may be arrested and jailed for having a satellite phone in some countries. While available services work in others, but an issue may exist when traveling through customs with a satellite phone:
| Arrest Risk Countries | Customs Issue Countries |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Cuba |
| Chad | Iran |
| Libya | Libya |
| Myanmar | Sudan |
| North Korea | Angola |
| Croatia |
Only Inmarsat devices are permitted in India, and possession of another network makes you liable for arrest and jail time.
China does not allow satellite phone coverage.
Globalstar Coverage
The Globalstar system covers North and South America, Europe, Australia, some parts of Asia, and some parts of Africa.
| No Voice Coverage Areas | No Message Send/Receive Coverage Areas |
|---|---|
| Central and Southern Africa | Belize |
| China (for political reasons) | China (Political) |
| Most of Asia | Costa Rica |
| Antarctica | Croatia |
| Greenland | El Salvador |
| Alaska | Guatemala |
| Northern Canada | Honduras |
| India (Must be Inmarsat) | |
| Nicaragua | |
| Panama |
Iridium Coverage
Technically Iridium covers the entire planet. Apart from the restrictions placed by certain countries for political reasons, the Iridium system provides coverage across the globe for all of its products.
💨 Service Quality And Speed
If you’re asking whether it’s worth getting a satellite phone, you should consider that sat phone speed and quality are affected by the following factors:
- The extreme distances that satellite call data travels affect call quality. Data packets are compressed to speed up the transmission, which may also affect the call quality.
- There must be a line-of-sight view between the phone and the responding satellite. This means satellite phones will not work indoors.
- Poor weather conditions affect the speed and quality of phone communications.
- Satellites communicate with each other. At the equator, satellites only remain in view for 7 minutes. When the satellite moves out of view, it hands the call to the following satellite. If the handover fails, the call is dropped.
- Heavy seas and severe storms may affect the quality of the call.
🪙 Pricing And Subscription Plans
The pricing for each network is listed below. These all work with the best satellite phones for sailing.
Globalstar
Globalstar offers the following monthly plans:
| Orbit 50 | Orbit Unlimited | 1700 Orbit 100 | Orbit 1700 Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $49.99/Month | $64.99/Month | $64.99/Month | $79.99/Month |
| Voicemail | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Calls | 50 Minutes | Unlimited | 100 Minutes/Month | Unlimited |
| Additional Voice Calls | $0.99/min | Unlimited | $0.99/min | Unlimited |
Globalstar offers the following annual plans:
| Galaxy 600 | Galaxy Unlimited | 1700 Galaxy | Galaxy 1700 Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $600/Year | $780/Year | $780/Year | $960/Year |
| Voicemail | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Calls | 600 Minutes/Year | Unlimited | 1200 Minutes/Year | Unlimited |
| Additional Voice Calls | $0.99/min | Unlimited | $0.99/min | Unlimited |
Iridium
Iridium offers the following monthly plans:
| GO! Basic | GO! Extra | GO! Plus | GO! Unlimited | GO! Unlimited Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription | $59.95/ Month | $84.95/ Month | $104.95/ Month | $139.95/ Month | $209.95/ Month |
| Contract Term | 1 Months | 1 Months | 1 Months | 1 Months | 1 Months |
| Voice Allowance | 5 Minutes/ Month | 75 Minutes/ Month | 150 Minutes/ Month | 150 Minutes/ Month | 250 Minutes/ Month |
| Data Allowance | (Unlimited Data) | (Unlimited Data) | |||
| Additional Voice Calls | $1.29/ Minute | $1.09/ Minute | $1.09/ Minute | $1.09/ Minute | $0.99/ Minute |
| Additional Data Calls | $0.89/ Minute | $0.69/ Minute | $0/29/ Minute | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Text Messages | $0.25/ Message | $0.15/ Message | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Iridium offers the following annual plans:
| GO! Annual | GO! Annual Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | $720/ Year | $1,680/ Year |
| Contract Term | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Voice Allowance | 5 Minutes/ Month | 150 Minutes/ Month |
| Data Allowance | (Unlimited Data) | |
| Additional Voice Calls | $1.29/ Minute | $1.09/ Minute |
| Additional Data Calls | $0.89/ Minute | Unlimited |
| Text Messages | $0.25/ Message | Unlimited |
🎯 Final Verdict
Globalstar rates are lower than Iridium, so in American, European, and Australian coastal waters, it makes sense to opt for this provider.
If you are traveling outside these areas, the Iridium system provides more extensive coverage.
Its global coverage ensures you stay connected no matter where you are, even in the most remote locations.
The wide range of services offered by Iridium also makes it a versatile choice for various needs, from emergency transmissions to asset tracking.
Lastly, its resilience to weather events ensures reliable communication even in challenging conditions.
🏆 Editor’s Choice: Given the advantages of Iridium, I would recommend choosing the Iridium network over Globalstar.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Satellite phones offer amazing functionality to sailors outside of cell phone range.
And if you are undergoing any voyage that takes you more than 60NM offshore, then they are crucial ocean safety items.
1️⃣ The Globalstar network provides coverage in and around America, Europe, and Australia. They are also cheaper.
2️⃣ The Iridium network provides coverage across the whole planet. They are more expensive, but they are better in terms of network reliability.
3️⃣ Some countries do not allow satellite phone use within their borders.
For a more comprehensive understanding of satellite communication systems, consider reading our comparison of Inmarsat and Iridium.
