Thuraya XT

The basics

Sat phones usually look like retro mobiles from the last century but with the XT, Thuraya has dressed up its high-tech-comms in a sexier package.

It’s not just stylish; it’s tough too. The external casing is made from robust polycarbonates, the internal components are encased in an aluminium shield and the connectors have rubber seals to prevent water damage. All this adds up to the XT conforming to IP54/IK03, an international industry standard that ensures the phone is sealed from dust, is splash resistant and shock-proof to impacts up to 0.35 joules.

The good

The built-in brightness sensor regulates the display according to ambient lighting conditions, so the screen is clear and easy to read, even in harsh sunlight. Another very useful specification is the built-in GPS function that will pin-point your position so even when you are making calls from the middle of nowhere you will know exactly where that is.

The battery has a very impressive lifespan of 80 hours standby and six hours of talk time – useful if you don’t have the luxury of plugging into a mains supply.

The bad

The down side of its mobile-style makeover is that the buttons are a little cramped. They are not much worse than the keypads on many cellphones, but the last thing you need if you are desperately trying to call international rescue from the middle of the Saraha is to miss-dial and reach some estate agency instead.

The XT uses geo synchronous satellites that sit in a stationary orbit 22000 miles up. These “birds” are very powerful, but currently the Thuraya network only has a limited footprint covering 140 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The bottom line

A great looker, but some style means usability concessions, and the coverage isn't as good as the Iridium...