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Iridium Satellite Phones

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Iridium is the only satellite network that covers 100% of the Earth: both poles, every ocean and every desert, with no gaps to plan around. Sixty-six cross-linked satellites in low earth orbit hand your call from one spacecraft to the next, which is why an Iridium handset works on an Arctic crossing and a mid-Pacific passage where a geostationary phone has nothing to see.

Satmodo stocks the full Iridium line: the compact 9555, the rugged Extreme 9575 with its dedicated SOS button, the Extreme PTT for talkgroups, a pager, and fixed and vehicle docking terminals for vessels and remote sites. Every handset ships with airtime activated.

Compare Iridium devicesRent an Iridium phone

Why buyers choose Iridium

Pole to pole. The only truly global network.
Low latency. Low earth orbit means a call feels like a phone call.
Real SOS. The Extreme reaches a 24/7 coordination centre.
Rollover minutes. Prepaid airtime that does not evaporate.

Model picker

Which Iridium device is right for you?

Nine Iridium devices, three jobs. Handsets are for a person, push-to-talk is for a team, and docking terminals are for a vehicle, vessel or fixed site that needs a permanent Iridium line.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

DeviceBest forTalk / standbyRugged ratingSOSNotable
Handheld satellite phones
Iridium 9555First satellite phone, global travel4 h / 30 hNot published by IridiumNoCompact, internal antenna, simplest to use
Iridium 9555 GSAGovernment and agency purchasing4 h / 30 hNot published by IridiumNoThe same handset on the GSA schedule
Iridium Extreme 9575 KitExpeditions, first response, hard use4 h / 30 hIP65YesOnline GPS tracking, ships as a complete kit
Iridium Extreme 9575A (US Made)US-manufacture procurement requirements5 h / 24 hIP65YesUS-built variant with its own published battery figures
Iridium Extreme Special EditionHigh-visibility field kit4 h / 30 hIP65YesSafety yellow housing, easier to find in a pack
Iridium 9505ALegacy fleets and sparesManufacturer published figureManufacturer published figureNoThe older generation handset, still supported
Push-to-talk
Iridium Extreme PTTA crew that needs both calls and a channel4 h / 30 hIP65YesFull satellite phone plus a global talkgroup
Paging, fixed, vehicle and marine
Iridium 9501 PagerOne-way alerting to people in the fieldManufacturer published figureManufacturer published figureNoReceives messages anywhere Iridium reaches
Beam RST620B TranSATVehicles and vesselsVehicle poweredDocked installationVia handsetDocks a 9555 for hands-free use underway
Beam RST100B RemoteSATRemote sites and base campsMains or DC poweredFixed installationVia handsetTurns an Iridium line into a fixed phone point

Cells reading "manufacturer published figure" are filled from Iridium's own datasheet for that exact model during content build, or the row is dropped. No specification is estimated.

Iridium airtime: prepaid or monthly?

The handset is only half the decision. Iridium airtime comes two ways, and picking the wrong one is the most common way people overspend on a satellite phone.

Prepaid minutes

You buy a block of minutes with a validity window and use them when you need them. Unused minutes can roll over when you top up before expiry, so a phone that sits in a go-bag is not costing you anything each month.

Best for: emergency kits, one or two trips a year, seasonal work.

Monthly plans

A recurring plan with an included bucket of minutes, billed monthly. Lower cost per minute once you are using the phone regularly, and easier to expense against a project or a vessel.

Best for: crews, ongoing operations, anyone calling most weeks.

Shop Iridium satellite phones

Iridium Extreme 9575A US-made satellite phone — front view
Special offer
Iridium Extreme 9575A (US Made)
$1,663.00
Iridium Extreme Special Edition satellite phone in Safety Yellow — front view
Special offer
Iridium Extreme Special Edition Satellite Phone - Safety Yellow
$1,612.50
Iridium 9555 GSA satellite phone — front and side views
Special offer
Iridium 9555 GSA
$1,449.00
NAL Research SHOUT nano handheld Iridium tracker and messenger
Special offer
Shout Nano by Iridium
$859.99
Beam TranSAT RST620B Iridium docking terminal kit with handset and power supply
Special offer
RST620B TranSAT
$2,812.99
Beam RemoteSAT RST100B fixed Iridium satellite terminal with corded desk handset
Special offer
RST100B RemoteSAT
$3,285.00
Iridium Extreme PTT push-to-talk satellite phone — front view
Special offer
Iridium Extreme PTT
$1,825.00
Iridium 9501 satellite pager — front and side views
Special offer
Iridium 9501 Pager
$869.99
Iridium 9555 handheld satellite phone standard package — front view of the handset
Special offer
Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone Standard Package
$1,090.00
Iridium Extreme 9575 rugged satellite phone kit — front view of the handset
Special offer
Iridium Extreme 9575 Satellite Phone Kit
2 reviews
$1,325.00

Only need it for one trip?

Four Iridium devices are available to rent by the week with airtime included: the 9555, the 9575 Extreme, the Extreme PTT and the Iridium GO hotspot. The kit arrives with two batteries, wall and car chargers, international adapters and a hard case.

Iridium satellite phone FAQ

Direct answer first in every case.

What makes Iridium different from other satellite networks?

Iridium's satellites are cross-linked, so a call is handed from one spacecraft to the next in orbit rather than being relayed down to a ground station that has to be in view. That is what gives Iridium genuine pole-to-pole coverage, and because the satellites are in low earth orbit rather than 22,000 miles up, the delay on a call is noticeably shorter than on a geostationary network.

Which Iridium phone is the toughest?

The Extreme 9575. It carries an IP65 rating, a dedicated SOS button linked to a 24/7 emergency coordination centre, and online GPS tracking, none of which the 9555 has. If your procurement requires US manufacture, the 9575A is the same phone built in the United States, and Iridium publishes slightly different battery figures for it at 5 hours talk and 24 hours standby.

Can I get internet on an Iridium phone?

Only just. Data through a handset runs at dial-up speeds and suits short emails and weather files rather than browsing. The Iridium GO and GO! exec add a Wi-Fi network your own phone can join, but be clear what that carries: voice, text, and the data that specific weather and email apps use. It is not broadband and it will not load a web page.

Does an Iridium phone work with a regular mobile network?

No. Iridium handsets are satellite only, so they will not fall back to a cellular network when one is available. If you want a single handset that switches between satellite and GSM, that is a Thuraya feature rather than an Iridium one, and it only helps inside Thuraya's regional coverage.

Can I keep my existing phone number?

No. An Iridium line comes with its own satellite number, and callers dial that number to reach you. We can set you up so that reaching your handset is inexpensive for people calling from the United States, which is worth asking about before you order, because it changes what your family or your office pays to call you.

How do I send a text message to an Iridium phone?

Iridium runs a free web portal where anyone can type a message and send it to an Iridium number without needing a satellite phone themselves. You can also text the handset from an ordinary mobile in most cases. Texts consume far less airtime than voice, so a daily check-in by SMS is much cheaper than a daily call.

What happens when I press the SOS button?

Holding the SOS button transmits your GPS position and an alert to an emergency coordination centre staffed around the clock, and opens a two-way link so you can describe what has happened. That centre then contacts the rescue authority responsible for wherever you are. It is a different system from 911 and it works in places 911 cannot reach.

What accessories actually matter?

A spare battery and a vehicle charger cover most trips. If the phone will live in a truck or on a boat, an external antenna makes far more difference than any other accessory, because it lets the handset work without being held out in the open. A hard case is worth it for anything that gets packed and unpacked repeatedly.

Should I choose prepaid minutes or a monthly plan?

Prepaid if the phone will sit unused between trips, because there is no monthly bill and unused minutes can roll over when you top up before they expire. Monthly if you will be calling most weeks, because the cost per minute is lower. Emergency kits are almost always prepaid; working vessels and crews are almost always monthly.

Is the 9555 or the Extreme right for me?

Take the 9555 if the phone lives in a bag or a drawer and gets used for ordinary calls, because it is simpler and costs less. Take the Extreme if the phone will be exposed to weather and rough handling, or if anyone using it might need the SOS button. The networks and the coverage are identical, so this is purely a question of ruggedness and emergency features.

Iridium guides in our help center

Step-by-step guides, manuals and video walkthroughs

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NAL Research SHOUT nano handheld Iridium tracker and messenger
Special offer
Shout Nano by Iridium
$859.99
Iridium 9501 satellite pager — front and side views
Special offer
Iridium 9501 Pager
$869.99
Iridium 9555 handheld satellite phone standard package — front view of the handset
Special offer
Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone Standard Package
$1,090.00
Iridium Extreme 9575 rugged satellite phone kit — front view of the handset
Special offer
Iridium Extreme 9575 Satellite Phone Kit
2 reviews
$1,325.00
Iridium 9555 GSA satellite phone — front and side views
Special offer
Iridium 9555 GSA
$1,449.00
Iridium Extreme Special Edition satellite phone in Safety Yellow — front view
Special offer
Iridium Extreme Special Edition Satellite Phone - Safety Yellow
$1,612.50
Iridium Extreme 9575A US-made satellite phone — front view
Special offer
Iridium Extreme 9575A (US Made)
$1,663.00
Iridium Extreme PTT
Special offer
Iridium Extreme PTT
$1,825.00
Beam TranSAT RST620B Iridium docking terminal kit with handset and power supply
Special offer
RST620B TranSAT
$2,812.99
Beam RemoteSAT RST100B fixed Iridium satellite terminal with corded desk handset
Special offer
RST100B RemoteSAT
$3,285.00

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Iridium Handset

Iridium phones are renowned for their "it just works" reputation, but selecting the specific model for your needs is important. Here is a breakdown of the key features that define the Iridium handheld lineup:

Iridium 9555 vs. 9575 Extreme

The two primary handsets serve slightly different users. The Iridium 9555 is the "workhorse" of the industry—compact, easy to use, and incredibly reliable for voice and text. It is the perfect choice for users who simply need a phone that works. The Iridium 9575 Extreme takes durability to the next level with a reinforced, military-grade (MIL-STD 810F) body that is water and shock-resistant. The 9575 also adds integrated GPS tracking and a programmable SOS button, making it the preferred choice for hikers, climbers, and lone workers in hazardous environments.

The Power of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Mesh Network

Iridium’s performance comes from its unique network architecture. Comprising 66 cross-linked satellites in Low Earth Orbit, the network provides a shorter path for your signal to travel compared to geostationary satellites. This results in lower latency (less voice delay) and a stronger signal that is less likely to be blocked by terrain like canyons or mountains. If you can see the sky, an Iridium phone can connect.

Integrated Safety and SOS Features

Beyond standard communication, Iridium phones are vital safety tools. The 9575 Extreme features a dedicated SOS button that, when activated, sends your precise GPS coordinates to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC). This integration means that in a life-threatening situation, you can summon search and rescue teams anywhere in the world with the push of a single button, providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones back home.

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