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- SIM DETAILS
- COVERAGE MAPS
- AIRTIME BURN RATES
- FAQ's
SIM DETAILS

Iridium Prepaid Plans — simple, controlled airtime for anywhere you can see the sky.
Choose based on where you’ll operate and how long you need service. Global works worldwide. Regional works only inside specific coverage zones.
No Activation Fees No Reload Fees No Service Fees International # (8816…) Use Plan Finder Global Plans Regional Plans Burn RatesPlan Finder (60 seconds)
Pick the closest match below — then jump to the plan list. Want us to confirm your best-fit option? Call/text: +1 (844) 248-0123.
1) Where will you use it?
If you might cross borders or go offshore, choose Global.
🌍 Global (Worldwide) 📍 Regional (Fixed zone)2) How long do you need it?
Choose the validity window that matches your timeline.
🧭 Trip / short job: 30–60 days 🗓️ Seasonal: 6 months 🏗️ Ongoing: 1–2 years3) How much will you talk?
Check-ins = lower minutes. Coordination = higher minutes.
💬 Light: ~5–20 min/mo 📞 Medium: ~20–60 min/mo 🛰️ Heavy: 60+ min/moBest-Fit Recommendations (most common)
⭐ Short trip / standby Global 100 min • 30 days ✅ Seasonal teams Global 200 min • 6 months 📡 Frequent coordination Global 600 min • 1 year 📍 Fixed region operations Northern Lights / Latin America / MEA–MENA (match your area)Global Prepaid Plans
Worldwide coverage. Best choice if you might move between countries or operate offshore.
Tip: Start with the validity window that matches your timeline (30/60 days vs. 6 months vs. 1 year), then scale minutes based on how often you’ll actually call out.Regional Prepaid Plans
Regional SIMs work only inside their covered area. Best when your operating zone is fixed.
| Plan | Minutes | SMS | Validity | Units | Extends | Rollover | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights (Canada & Alaska) 200 Works only in Canada & Alaska + 12nm coastal. | 200 | 400 | 6 Months | 4,800 | Minutes Only | Yes | $375 |
| Northern Lights (Canada & Alaska) 500 Recommended Best for longer seasonal ops. | 500 | 1000 | 1 Year | 12,000 | Minutes Only | Yes | $750 |
| Middle East & Africa (MEA) Targeted regional coverage (see details below). | 300 | 1500 | 1 Year | 18,000 | N/A | N/A | $460 |
| Latin America 200 No Caribbean Latin America land + 12nm coastal. | 200 | 1000 | 6 Months | 12,000 | Minutes Only | Yes | $330 |
| Latin America 500 Higher capacity for longer deployments. | 500 | 2250 | 1 Year | 30,000 | Minutes Only | Yes | $600 |
COVERAGE MAPS
Coverage Maps & Where Each SIM Works
Global SIMs work worldwide. Regional SIMs work only inside the listed coverage zones (typically land + up to 12 nautical miles coastal). If you might travel outside the region, choose a Global plan.
Regional = fixed zone Coastal coverage: +12nm
Global prepaid coverage: anywhere you can see the sky.
Global SIM (Worldwide)
Best choice for travel, offshore, multi-country operations, and “unknown” routes.
CoverageWorldwide (true global) Best forCross-border / offshore / changing routes Incoming calls & SMSFree to the Iridium SIM (caller may pay their carrier) TipChoose validity first, then minutes If there’s any chance you’ll leave a region, choose Global to avoid service cut-offs outside the zone.
Northern Lights coverage: Canada & Alaska (+12nm coastal).
Northern Lights (Canada & Alaska)
Will not work outside of Alaska and Canada. Best for fixed operations inside the zone.
CoverageCanada & Alaska + 12nm coastal waters ValidityUp to 6 months (per voucher) from activation/recharge RechargeYes, prior to expiry (retains your Iridium number) RolloverUnused minutes/units roll over with recharge Leaving the zone = service may not work. If you’re unsure, choose Global.
Latin America coverage: land + up to 12nm offshore. No Caribbean.
Latin America SIM
Valid on calls placed from Latin America only. Designed for fixed Latin America routes.
Important: This plan does NOT cover the Caribbean. CoverageLatin America land + 12nm coastal waters Works outside region?No Island noteSmall islands may be detected as international waters; service not guaranteed Best forFixed Latin America operations
Africa SIM coverage map.
Africa SIM
Works in the covered countries below + up to 12 nautical miles into coastal waters.
Not covered (per your original terms): Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Libya, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland & Togo.Covered Countries (Africa SIM)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Juan De Nova Island
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa (including Prince Edwards Island)
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Plus 12 nautical miles into coastal waters.
If you want, send us your country list and we’ll confirm coverage before you purchase.
MENA coverage: select Middle East + North Africa countries (+12nm coastal).
MENA / MEA SIM
Works only in the listed countries. If your route might change, choose Global.
Attention: Not covered (per your original terms): Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Libya, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland & Togo.Covered Countries (MENA / MEA SIM)
Africa coverage
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Juan De Nova Island
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Plus 12 nautical miles into coastal waters.
Middle East coverage
- Cyprus
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Plus 12 nautical miles into coastal waters.
Want certainty? Send your route and we’ll confirm coverage before you purchase.
AIRTIME BURN RATES
Burn Rates (Units) by SIM Type
These tables show how services decrement units depending on the voucher type.
| Northern Lights SIM — Service Type | Unit Rate |
|---|---|
| IRIDIUM UNITS | 4,800 or 12,000 |
| INCOMING - Voice Calls | FREE |
| INCOMING - SMS / Text | FREE |
| INCOMING - Two-stage Dialing | 36 Units |
| OUTGOING - Landline or Cellular to North America | 24 Units |
| OUTGOING - Landline or Cellular to Outside North America | 24 Units |
| OUTGOING - SMS / Text | 12 Units / Message |
| OUTGOING - Iridium Data | 36 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voicemail Retrieval & Other Iridium | 18 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Satellite Networks | 324 Units |
| Latin America SIM — Service Type | Unit Rate |
|---|---|
| IRIDIUM UNITS | 12,000 or 30,000 |
| INCOMING - Cellular | FREE |
| INCOMING - SMS / Text | FREE |
| INCOMING - Two-stage Dialing | 60 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voice ISU to PSTN, Landline & Cellular | 60 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Iridium | 30 Units |
| OUTGOING - SMS / Text | 30 Units / Message |
| OUTGOING - Iridium Data | 30 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voicemail Retrieval | 30 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Satellite Networks | 810 Units |
| Africa SIM — Service Type | Unit Rate |
|---|---|
| IRIDIUM UNITS | 7,200 |
| INCOMING - Cellular | FREE |
| INCOMING - SMS / Text | FREE |
| INCOMING - Two-stage Dialing | 36 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voice ISU to PSTN, Landline & Cellular | 24 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Iridium | 18 Units |
| OUTGOING - SMS / Text | 12 Units / Message |
| OUTGOING - Iridium Data | 30 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voicemail Retrieval | 18 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Satellite Networks | 324 Units |
| MENA SIM — Service Type | Unit Rate |
|---|---|
| IRIDIUM UNITS | 30,000 |
| INCOMING - Cellular | FREE |
| INCOMING - SMS / Text | FREE |
| INCOMING - Two-stage Dialing | 150 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voice ISU to PSTN, Landline & Cellular | 60 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Iridium | 48 Units |
| OUTGOING - SMS / Text | 30 Units / Message |
| OUTGOING - Iridium Data | 102 Units |
| OUTGOING - Voicemail Retrieval | 48 Units |
| OUTGOING - Other Satellite Networks | 906 Units |
FAQ's
Iridium Prepaid Plans FAQ
Straight answers for choosing the right prepaid SIM, understanding validity and rollover, dialing correctly, and avoiding surprises in the field.
Available 24/7: +1 (844) 248-0123 Ask us to confirm your best-fit plan Choosing the right planQ Should I choose Iridium Monthly or Iridium Prepaid? ⌄
Monthly is usually best when you want uninterrupted service, flexible usage, and consistent operations.Prepaid is ideal for controlled budgets, short deployments, standby phones, and situations where you can’t risk overages. With prepaid, when minutes/units are depleted, service stops until you refill.
Q Global vs Regional prepaid SIM — what’s the difference? ⌄
Global SIM: works worldwide (best for travel, offshore, multi-country operations).Regional SIM: works only inside the covered region — if you leave the zone, service may not work.
If there’s any chance you’ll cross borders or operate outside a fixed zone, choose Global.
Q When does validity start — at purchase or activation? ⌄
Validity starts when the SIM/voucher is activated or recharged, not when it’s purchased.Q Do unused minutes roll over? ⌄
Many vouchers allow rollover when you refill before the expiration date, but rollover rules can vary by plan type. There are also maximum account validity rules, which means balances cannot be carried forward indefinitely.If you tell us which plan you’re using, we’ll confirm your exact rollover behavior.
Q Can I extend validity without adding airtime? ⌄
Some Global prepaid SIMs support a low-cost validity extension option without adding minutes. Availability depends on the voucher type — we can confirm before you purchase.Q How do I check my remaining prepaid balance? ⌄
Most prepaid accounts support a simple balance-check method from the handset (often via an SMS-based check). If you tell us your device model and plan type, we’ll provide the exact steps and confirm whether the check is free on your voucher.Q How do I dial outbound calls from an Iridium phone? ⌄
Iridium dialing uses international formats. The best practice is to store numbers in your phone using a consistent international format so they work across regions. If you share where you’re calling from and who you call most, we’ll give you a quick dialing cheat-sheet.Q Am I charged for incoming calls and texts? ⌄
In most cases, incoming calls and texts are not deducted from your prepaid balance. However, callers may pay higher rates to call an Iridium number because it’s an international satellite number.Q Do satellite phones work on the ocean? ⌄
Yes. Iridium is widely used offshore. You need a clear view of the sky. For the most convenient vessel setup, many customers use an external antenna or docking solution.Q Can I use my Iridium phone indoors? ⌄
Typically no — Iridium requires line-of-sight to satellites. If you need indoor service (buildings, vehicles, vessels, mines), you’ll want an external antenna/docking solution.Q What happens when my prepaid balance runs out? ⌄
When your minutes/units are depleted, service stops until you refill with a new voucher. There’s no overage billing on prepaid — it’s designed to keep spending controlled.Q Can I recharge after my prepaid SIM expires? ⌄
Many prepaid SIMs include a post-expiration grace window where a refill can reactivate the SIM and retain the number. Best practice is to refill before expiry to reduce risk and preserve continuity.Q How do I refill / top up my prepaid plan? ⌄
You purchase a refill voucher and apply it to the SIM/account. The refill typically adds minutes/units and extends validity based on the voucher type. If you want, we’ll walk you through the exact steps for your handset.Q Are voicemail checks billed? ⌄
Voicemail retrieval is typically treated as outgoing usage and is deducted according to your plan’s burn rate table.Q Will a Regional SIM work outside the covered zone? ⌄
Regional SIMs are designed to work only inside the region. Outside the zone, service may be restricted or unavailable. If you might travel beyond the region, choose Global.Q What countries are covered on Regional SIMs? ⌄
Coverage varies by Regional voucher type (Northern Lights, Latin America, Africa, MENA/MEA). We list all covered countries in the Coverage section above. If you give us your route, we’ll verify fit before you buy.Q What devices work with Iridium prepaid SIMs? ⌄
Most Iridium voice SIM-compatible devices support prepaid SIMs (handsets, certain docking/terminal solutions, and hotspots where applicable). If you share your device model, we’ll confirm compatibility and the correct SIM size (standard vs micro).Q Are there any country restrictions I should know about? ⌄
Some destinations may have regulatory or carrier restrictions. If you’re traveling to a sensitive area, tell us your destination and we’ll help you confirm service availability and compliance before deployment.Client Reviews
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