The above information refers in each case to the center of the country / region.
Latest information regarding restricted usage in Iran, June 2025
Iridium "Currently, Iridium is not restricting any of our services in or around Iran.
Iridium ground and space networks are performing as expected, and we believe any service issues experienced are local/regional to the device. It is recommended that users experiencing connectivity issues take steps to mitigate any identified sources of obstruction or RF interference and then retry their transmission.
We recognize that some of the local environmental conditions related to obstructions and RF interference may not be ideal and may be outside the user's and Iridium's control. In these cases, we ask that you advise end users to take these factors into consideration when attempting to use our service."
Inmarsat "Iran is a sanctioned country and we cannot provide any services or hardware to Iran. Any Viasat + Inmarsat services found to be active/activated by one of our partners in this region are deactivated immediately."
Thuraya "No issues in Thuraya network over Iran, Thuraya services are guaranteed in the region.."
General technical coverage For Thuraya and Inmarsat we have indicated the elevation angle to the satellite and the azimuth. The flatter the satellite is above the horizon, the more difficult the reception will be depending on topography and buildings. This should clarify our classification. For fixed installations, the elevation angle is not crucial as long as the antenna has a clear view to the satellite.
Iridium has orbiting satellites. Here the proximity to the equator plays the decisive role, because at the equator the satellite density of the Iridium network is lowest. On the sea, however, this is negligible because there is a clear view all around, even to satellites located flat above the horizon.
Himalayan region
Although the topography is difficult, the Himalayan region is well suited for Thuraya phones because the satellite is high above the horizon. The satellite is located in the south-east or south-west, so coverage shadows are only to be expected if you climb a mountain on the north side.
To avoid possible coverage gaps due to the topography, you can of course take an Iridium phone with you. You're more likely to have to deal with disconnects, but you also know that it will be working again a few minutes later.
Using IsatPhone in Nepal
Starting in Juli 2017 we got the information from customers that their IsatPhones were not able to connect to the network in some regions. Obviously this is blocked. A registration failed in the region Pokhara and in Chitwan National Park. So we cannot recommend the usage of IsatPhone in Nepal at the moment.
Please note: Despite careful editing, we can not guarantee the completeness and timeliness as well as actual availability. Political conditions in particular can change quickly in some cases.
35° - South-WestElevation - Azimuth
