The use of Satellite phones in Maritime - Technology

The sea covers around 75% of the earth. Given this, communication can sometimes be made difficult without the ability to position cell towers, and given the distance that cell towers cover an alternative method of communication has to be used.

Communication out at sea is vitally important. If the vessel is to run into distress it needs to be able to contact either the nearest military base or nearest coast guard. A vessel could be thousands of miles away from the nearest port or land making sea travel very dangerous at times.

Satellite phones are the ideal way to get complete communication coverage whilst out at sea, due to the fact that, apart from potential heavy cloud, there is very little to get in the way of the line of sight of the satellites.

Satellite phones utilise a network of satellites that orbit the earth and send signals back and forth to handsets on earth. As you can imagine, this is ideal for maritime as there probably isn't a more remote location than out at sea, being thousands of miles away from land or another vessel at any given time. A satellite phone requires a direct line of sight with the satellites, so at times; with heavy cloud the signal may become weak or distorted.

Various Navy's around the world have started to make use of Satellite phone technology in their fleets to help support day to day combat. These phones can be used both on the vessels and within aircraft enabling constant contact during both peaceful and conflict situations.

Satellite phone technology plays an important role in helping to manage conflict and prevent potential crisis situations. If a central communications control is monitoring the location of a vessel it can quickly alert them of adverse weather conditions or a conflicting vessel allowing them to make a timely diversion away from the conflict. It is exactly this kind of situation that makes a satellite phone invaluable at times at it can help to save multiple lives and prevent disaster.

Of course, Satellite phones are not only valuable to large fleets such as the navy. Even private boat owners who run into distress can benefit from having the technology aboard their vessel. With advances in technology satellite phones have become more and more affordable and I would strongly recommend they are considered for anyone involved in maritime.

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