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.
Our recommendation
In southern Russia you can use an Inmarsat phone, for the whole of Russia an Iridium phone is the right choice.
Using BGAN in Russia:
Depending on to which Service Provider a BGAN SIM card belong to it is not unrestrictedly usable. As our knowledge only SIM cards from the Service Provider MVS are working without any restriction.
Using Iridium in Russia:
In order for a subscriber to comply with Russian regulations for the use of Iridium
In order for a subscriber to comply with Russian regulations for the use of Iridium mobile satellite service in the territory of the Russian Federation, online subscriber registration is necessary for all subscribers located in or traveling to Russia. The process for registration is simple, and can be completed at: www.iridium-russia.com*. Note that subscribers are able to register their device for use in the territory of the Russian Federation prior to their arrival in the region.
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.
24° - SouthElevation - Azimuth
