What is "Iridium", a satellite mobile phone that can talk even when cell phone base stations can not be used?

There are areas where the base stations are damaged due to the Tohoku region Pacific offshore earthquake and mobile phones can not be used mainly in the Tohoku region, but even if the cell phone base stations can not be used due to disasters etc, I have a telephone.

Mobile phones that covered the whole earth by using satellites "iridium"is.

Details are as below.
This is an introduction movie of the satellite mobile phone iridium terminal "9555".
YouTube - Iridium 9555 Tutorial: Dialing and Completing a Call


Where I am looking for satellites


When you are talking you need to point the antenna to the sky.


When calling, enter the country code and dial


We will use it where there is no shielding.



66 satellites cover the entire Earth.


Seamless calling is possible.


Iridium satellite mobile phone | Iridium service | KDDI CORPORATION


Service contents of "Iridium". Because it communicates directly with the satellite, it is not affected by the presence or absence of ground base stations. Communication between iridium terminals is performed not only via satellites, but also communication is established between iridium terminals and landline phones, mobile phones, etc. via the earth station in the United States. I will.


66 satellites are placed at low altitude of 780 km from the ground, covering the whole world except North Korea and Sri Lanka. In addition, there are times when you can not talk in the room or in places where the sky is not wide.


In addition to the 66 satellites, a spare satellite was also deployed. If a failure occurs in the working satellite, it will be used as an alternative satellite so there is no hindrance to the call.


The fee plan etc is like this.

Rates | Iridium Service | KDDI CORPORATION


Base price of the terminal. The main body price of "9555" currently on sale is 249,000 yen including tax. Usage contract fee is 10,500 yen including tax, and further monthly basic charge and communication fee will be charged.


Iridium compatible terminal "9555"The body. The main body size is about 55 mm × 143 mm × 30 mm and slightly larger, weighing about 266 grams. Also, continuous waiting time is within about 30 hours, continuous talk time is within about 4 hours. By using the miniUSB port, data communication of 2.4 kbps is also possible.


side


I stretched the antenna.


Having it in your hands like this.


Monthly basic charge. There are two types of "6000 yen plan" including 6000 yen / month for free communication fee and "5000 yen plan" including 1000 yen for free communication charge at 5000 yen per month.


The communication fee is like this. If you subscribe to 6000 yen plan and apply to fixed and mobile phones, it costs 55 yen (165 yen per minute) every 20 seconds.


The price of the terminal is very expensive Iridium, but the rental service is under way. In the case of short-term use, it becomes relatively inexpensive to use.


Although it is basically regarded as a corporate service, it is said that it is also possible for individuals to apply on the application page, in that case the payment method is limited to credit cards. In response to the Tohoku Region Pacific Offshore Earthquake, KDDI has lent to disaster countermeasures organizations and others.