Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a satellite phone?
A. Just like your cell phone connects to a cell phone tower on ground, a satellite phone connects to a satellite in space.

Q. Does Vodacom have satellite phones?
A. No, they do not. Just like you get Vodacom, CellC and MTN, so you get Iridium, Thuraya, Inmarsat etc - which are the satellite equivalent of the cellular networks.

Q. What is the coverage of satellite phones like?
A. It differs from satellite network to satellite network. Some are regional while others are semi-global and others are truly global. Even the ones with the smallest coverage area cover at least 100 countries!

Q. Where does Globalcom Satellite fit in the picture?
A. We are a satellite Service Provider, the equivalent of Nashua Cellular - we can provide you any of the satellite products from any of the networks, all depending on what best suits your needs.

Q. Is satellite phones the same as cell phones in the sense that there are many brands that work on any of the networks?
A. No. Unlike the cellular industry, satellite networks on the phones that work on each network is proprietary to each network. You cannot use a product from one network on another.

Q. So how do I know which one is best for me?
A. A good start will be to evaluate the "satellite phone comparison" from the downloads/general section of our website. Then get back to us with your questions etc.

Q. Can a satellite phone call a normal cell phone or landline?
A. Yes, and visa versa too.

Q. Does a satellite phone work indoors?
A. Stricly speaking, No. However there are accessories such as docking stations, car kits and rooftop/external antennas that can enable them to be used while indoors.

Q. Is it cheapoer to use a satellite phone on my travels than using cellular raoming?
A. Yes. With satellite phones there are no roaming, zoning, peak or incoming call charges.

Q. Can I permanenetly install a satellite phone at my office/home?
A. Yes, but the portable products can be costly to run on an extended basis. If you're looking for a permanently fixed solution, you need to ask us for a quote on a VSAT.

Q. What is a VSAT?
A. It stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal. It is basically an industry standard acronym for what is supposed to be an open-standard solution. There are quite a lot of different VSAT solutions on the market, but Globalcom Satellite only sells the best, being iDirect.

Q. How do I buy from you?
A. You contact us for a quote, which we will submit with our banking details. You simply send us a proof of payment with your delivery address, and we will ensure to have the goods delivered to your door together with all the necessary information to get started.

Q. What about warranty?
A. All our products are covered by AT LEAST a 1 year carry-in warranty. We will bear the cost of shipping returned goods back to you.