How Satellite Phones Work and Why Operatives Use Them

Satellite phones (satphones) are unique communication devices that connect directly to satellites orbiting the Earth, rather than relying on terrestrial cell towers.

Unlike traditional mobile phones, which need local cell towers to transmit signals, satphones send signals to satellites in space that bounce them back to Earth-based stations.

From there, the signal is routed through ground networks or back through other satellites, allowing communication in remote or isolated areas. That’s why satphones are used in places where regular phones don’t work, like in deserts, mountains, or oceans.

What makes satellite phones secure, especially for covert operatives, is that they’re less vulnerable to traditional interception methods used against cell phones. Cell phone communications are easier to intercept because they transmit through numerous ground-based towers, and those towers can be monitored or hacked.

With satphones, the signal jumps directly to a satellite, making interception more complex. There are fewer points along the transmission path where someone could intercept or eavesdrop on a conversation. This added layer of protection is essential when you can’t afford to have your communication compromised.

However, it’s important to note that no communication system is 100% secure, and satphones are no exception. A determined adversary with the right tools could still intercept satellite communications, especially if they have advanced signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities.

Encryption is the real security layer that protects operatives’ conversations. Most modern satellite phones include strong encryption protocols, making it much harder for anyone to decipher the messages, even if they manage to intercept the signal. Without encryption, even satellite calls could potentially be vulnerable to sophisticated enemies.

Satphones are especially important for operatives working in hostile environments or regions where local infrastructure is unreliable or monitored. In many countries, government agencies control or monitor cell networks, making local communications risky.

Satphones bypass these networks, allowing operatives to communicate without depending on local governments or companies that might be compromised. They’re also used in crisis zones, war zones, or during natural disasters when regular cell towers may be destroyed or downed.

One drawback is that satphones aren’t as covert as regular smartphones when it comes to physical detection. They’re bulkier, the antennas are longer, and using one can attract unwanted attention, especially in urban areas or when operating in close proximity to surveillance.

There’s also the fact that satellite communication can be triangulated, revealing your location. That’s why most operatives won’t rely on satphones for day-to-day use but only in specific scenarios where secure, reliable communication is critical.

Ultimately, operatives use satellite phones because they offer secure, global communication capabilities when other methods aren’t practical or safe. They’re not a perfect tool for every situation, but when it comes to operating in remote areas or behind enemy lines, satphones, especially those with encryption, can be a key part of an operative’s tradecraft.

They provide a level of independence from local networks, reducing the chances of being compromised by regional actors or adversaries.