How to Call a Satellite Phone Number

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Calling Collect

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Q&A

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Things You'll Need

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Dialing the Number

1
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 http://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html
2
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]
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3
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]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Calling Collect

1
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.^{[3]
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2
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.
3
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.

Community Q&A

Question

How many digits are in a satellite phone number?

Community Answer

They have a unique prefix number followed by either 8 or 9 digits.
Question

How can I send a text message to a satellite phone?

Community Answer

Unfortunately, you can't send a text message to a satellite phone.
Question

Do I dial 8816 before or after the 011?

Community Answer

You would dial the 011 first.