Let us first study how the cellular network functions.

What is a cell?

A cell may be defined as a given geographical area that is within the range of a site or, zone or, base station, which contains all network communication equipments including a radio receiver and transmitter.

What is a cellular network?

A cellular network comprises of a number of hexagonal cells each having a local transmitter, which has the inbuilt capacity to cater to the communication needs of that particular cell.

There may be many cellular network companies offering cellular services. Each cellular Network has a Cellular Communication Exchange known as MTS0 - Mobile Telephone Switching Office. It has all the details of all cells and the subscribers listed together with handset numbers.

Cellular vs. Satellite phones.

A satellite phone can be accessed from any part of the world, even from sea, or airplane, or a desert or a mountain.

A cellular phone can only be used where there is such a service, cannot be used from areas where there is no coverage, or from sea, or from air or from other remote areas such as deserts or mountains.

The quality of voice reproduction is always excellent, as the voice need not go through any cellular telephone exchange or Public Switched Telephone Network PSTN.

There is always signal loss and voice interferences found in cell phone system. Also if you are located at the peripheral area (the so called fringe areas) of a cellular site, there is bound to be a weak voice reproduction.

The coverage of cellular services is mostly limited to cities and bigger towns as it would be economically unviable to establish a cellular network if there are not enough subscribers.

A cellular phone does not require a distinct geographical location, as it is independent of regions.

Landline services cover not even 20% of earths landmass besides no coverage for all the areas of seas.

Satellite phone gives dependable service. Emails, text etc, in addition to voice, is also possible.