Satellite Phones – Connecting You Beyond Limitations

The road not taken; is more than a poem written by Robert Frost, but an adventure sought by many. The thrill of getting away for a weekend and experiencing the farthest corners of the earth is beyond compare. Simply GPS your location, snap a selfie, share it on social media and be on your way. Or so it would seem.

As of 2019, 97 percent of the world’s population lived within reach of a mobile cellular signal, however only 34 percent of the Earth’s land mass is covered by cellular signal.

Image showing cellular coverage worldwide

In the United States, neither the Department of the Interior nor the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service keeps track of missing persons. However, using the National Park Service’s reported SAR (Search and Rescue) incidents, we can set a baseline statistic for lost backpackers. In 2013 alone, 2,348 individuals were reported as lost on federal lands with a 90% success rate of retrieval.

According to National Geographic, most of these incidents revolve around day hikers straying or falling off a trail without cellular signal. This very scenario was brought to the silver screen in the 2010 blockbuster 127 Hours. In this retelling of hiker Aron Ralston’s fight for survival, Aron wanders off the marked path in Utah’s Canyonland National Park and soon becomes trapped between a boulder and the canyon’s wall. Aron attempts to use his cell phone to call for help, but realizes he is out of range of the nearest cellular tower. Without spoiling the ending, Aron eventually escapes the chasm to retell his story, albeit with life altering injuries.

Many seasoned expeditioners have invested in satellite phones as a form of insurance. One such instance took place in the summer of 2022 on the “Top-of-the-World-Highway” in Alaska. Retired Satcom Direct employees, Richard and Cindy Shenk were two hours from cellular service when their friend’s motor home was forced off the road by oncoming traffic. The motor home teetered on the ledge of a 1,500-foot drop. The driver crawled out of the side window and used their rental Iridium Extreme to hail a tow truck. Disaster averted; they were on their way 48 hours later.

Top of the World Highway
View from The Top-of-the-World-Highway
Stranded bus falling off cliff
Motor home forced off road

Satcom Direct, the business aviation provider, specializes in satellite communications across multiple sectors including land mobile expeditions. Outward bound travelers can leverage the experience of the award-winning team at Satcom Direct to identify communication pitfalls and prepare for when disaster strikes. As the old adage goes, fail to plan; plan to fail.

Learn more about Satcom Direct’s land mobile solutions here:

https://www.satcomdirect.com/land-mobile/

 

Photos:

Cell map – https://assets.weforum.org/editor/AbkVr9NVJwtDbtXj25eEx3Tyt2DdHcUmJy1Nyv6PxAA.jpeg

Motor home Richard and Wendy Shenk

Sources:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/almost-half-of-world-population-offline/#:~:text=The%20ITU%20data%20shows%20that,or%20higher%20mobile%20broadband%20network.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016292/mobile-coverage-by-technology-worldwide/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20global%20LTE%20population,percent%20population%20coverage%20by%202027.

https://www.quora.com/What-percentage-of-the-Earths-land-surface-has-cellular-service

https://www.quora.com/How-often-do-people-get-lost-in-the-woods-in-the-United-States

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/hikers-survival-tips

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Gogo Business Aviation (Gogo) and Satcom Direct (SD) have come together to form the only truly global, multi-orbit, multi-band in-flight connectivity provider, serving the fast-growing business aviation and military/government mobility markets.

This strategic partnership combines two industry-leading technology companies that will deliver best in class, purpose-built solutions for all segments of the business aviation market.

We are reimagining the inflight wi-fi experience from tip to tail to connect you beyond all expectations. Whether for corporate jets or military aircraft, we will continue to set the standard for reliability, security, and innovation in aviation connectivity.

Together, Gogo and Satcom Direct are shaping the future of inflight connectivity, making it easier than ever for customers to stay connected without limitations.  Learn more