This article was published in 2013 and updated in October 2026.

In 2013, satellite phones had come a long way. Once used mainly by government agencies, first responders and people in the most remote corners of the Earth, they had become a service that backcountry hikers, journalists and families preparing for emergencies could buy or rent. We made five predictions about where satellite phones were heading — here they are, together with how each one has turned out by 2026.

1. Less expensive phones and airtime

The 2013 prediction: Prices had already dropped sharply. Around 2000, an Iridium handset cost $3,000 or more and airtime about $7 per minute; by 2013, top Iridium phones cost around $1,400, Globalstar phones under $500, and airtime up to about $2 per minute. We expected prices to keep falling.

How it turned out: Partly right. Dedicated satellite phones are still specialist devices that cost hundreds of dollars or more, with airtime billed by the minute or in bundles. The big price drop came from a different direction: basic satellite messaging is now built into ordinary smartphones, and satellite messengers such as Garmin inReach offer subscription plans aimed at hikers.

2. Smaller phones

The 2013 prediction: Handsets would keep shrinking and become more popular with people who need lightweight gear.

How it turned out: Right, and more than expected. Pocket-sized satellite messengers that pair with your phone are now common, and since the iPhone 14 in 2022 many regular smartphones can contact emergency services via satellite without any extra device.

3. More consistent, truly global coverage

The 2013 prediction: Coverage differed between networks — Iridium worked almost everywhere, while Globalstar had gaps near the poles and in Africa. We expected providers to move towards truly global coverage.

How it turned out: Right. Iridium replaced its entire constellation with the Iridium NEXT satellites by 2019, and large new low-Earth-orbit constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink have added thousands of satellites. Coverage is still not identical everywhere, and phone-based services work best with a clear view of the sky.

4. More features on phones

The 2013 prediction: Most satellite phones only offered voice calls, GPS and text messages. We expected them to eventually gain smartphone-like features such as internet access and apps.

How it turned out: It happened, though mostly by bringing satellite links to smartphones rather than making satellite phones smarter. Apple added Emergency SOS via satellite in 2022 and satellite messaging in iOS 18 (2024), and Google introduced Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9 in 2024. In the US, T-Mobile launched its T-Satellite service with Starlink in 2025, offering texting, and later some app data, on regular phones. Fast satellite data is still mostly reserved for dedicated terminals such as Starlink dishes or Iridium Certus.

5. Hybrid satellite and cellular phones

The 2013 prediction: Companies were working on combining satellite and cellular in one device. Thuraya was developing a sleeve that turns an iPhone into a satellite phone, and hybrid phones looked like the future of wireless communication.

How it turned out: Spot on. Thuraya released its SatSleeve, and today the idea has gone much further: satellite networks are being built directly into mobile standards (the 3GPP “non-terrestrial network” specifications), and smartphones automatically switch to satellite when there is no cellular signal.

The bottom line

Most of these predictions came true — just not always the way we expected. For many people, the smartphone in their pocket now covers emergencies in the wilderness. If you regularly travel far off the grid, need voice calls everywhere or depend on reliable communication at sea or in polar regions, a dedicated satellite phone or messenger is still the safer choice.

More guides

• The Role of Gadgets in Our Daily Life
• The Latest in Robotics: From ASIMO to Robotaxis and Humanoids
• 4 Technology Solutions That Can Improve Your Health
• How to Fix Common Panasonic TV Problems