Satellite Airtime Options
Compare monthly airtime and prepaid SIM cards
When deciding what airtime option to choose, it is important to know that most satellite networks offer ongoing monthly service, or the option to purchase a fixed amount of prepaid airtime to use in a defined period.
Monthly Airtime Plans
Total peace-of-mind. Uninterrupted ongoing service, no expiry dates to worry about, and the freedom to change or cancel plans any time*. Our convenient online tools help you track usage.
*Only BGAN plans require a minimum 1 year term.
Prepaid Airtime
Budget-control. Pre-paying for airtime is a good option for fixed budgets, or users with predictable periodic needs. It requires a bit more management, but our online tools make it easy to activate cards, and monitor airtime balances and expiry dates.
Compare Prepaid & Monthly Airtime
| Compare Airtime Options | Prepaid SIM Cards | Monthly Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited for... | Short-term or seasonal usage; fixed budgets | Uninterrupted monthly service |
| Benefits offered by BlueCosmo |
|
|
| Limitations | Airtime is purchased in advance and it expires | One-time activation fee |
| Does my service expire? | Yes — expiry ranges from 30 days to 2 years (card dependent) | No — service continues until you cancel |
| Does my airtime expire? | Yes — 30 days to 2 years (card dependent). You can’t place/receive calls if airtime is depleted or expired. | No rollover — unused included airtime doesn’t carry forward, but you can always place/receive calls at standard plan rates. |
| Does my satellite phone number expire? | Yes — if your prepaid SIM expires, you may lose the number | No — you keep your number until you cancel |
| Optional Dedicated US Phone Number | Not available | Available for Iridium and IsatPhone plans |
| When do I pay for my airtime? | In advance when you purchase the card | Monthly* |
| Do I have to refill my airtime? | Yes | No |
| Do I receive monthly detailed call records? | No | Yes |
FAQs
With a monthly plan, you’ll have ongoing service until you cancel. Most plans include some airtime included each month, affordable rates for additional usage, and a detailed online record of your usage and calls each month. Never run out of airtime with monthly service.
With a prepaid SIM card, you can purchase a fixed amount of airtime to be used within a defined expiry period. You need to monitor your balance and expiry to ensure you have airtime when you need it. Some prepaid cards offer the option to purchase an airtime refill if your balance is low, or extend the expiry date for a fee if you need more time. With prepaid service, you won’t receive a record of your calls.
It depends on the network. Iridium and Inmarsat phones do require an active SIM card to be able to transmit and receive, and the phone number is assigned to the SIM card. Globalstar does not use SIM cards and pre-assigns the phone number to each phone.
No, each phone will need its own monthly or prepaid airtime plan.
When you order ongoing monthly or annual service from BlueCosmo for an Iridium phone, Iridium GO! or an IsatPhone, your SIM card will be activated at the time that we ship it to you. Just insert the SIM in the phone and you’ll be able to register with the network and make and receive calls.
When you order prepaid airtime from BlueCosmo for an Iridium phone, Iridium GO! or an IsatPhone, your SIM card is not activated when it is shipped. The reason is that prepaid airtime expires and we don’t want you to lose any value while the card is in transit to you. Once you receive your card, you can activate it whenever you want by logging in to your online account clicking on the Prepaid from the menu and selecting the SIM card that you’d like to activate. Once activated, just insert the SIM card into your device and you’ll be able to register with the network and make and receive calls.
When you order airtime service for a Globalstar phone, you’ll receive an email from us with a short form that needs to be completed so that we can activate the service for you. Once you’ve sent that to us and the service is activated, we’ll send you another email to let you know when service has been activated on your phone. This usually happens within 1 business day.