Iridium - Dialing 911

Iridium emergency calling (911) is available only within specific regions. This article explains where 911 works, how it functions on an Iridium device, and what to expect when placing an emergency call.

Table of Contents

• Where Iridium 911 Service Works
• What Happens When You Dial 911 Outside Supported Areas
• How Iridium 911 Service Works
• How to Dial 911 on an Iridium Device
• Does 911 Require an Active SIM Card
• What Happens If Your 911 Call Drops
• Additional Questions About Iridium 911

Where Iridium 911 Service Works

Iridium subscribers can dial 911 when located within the United States and its defined territories.

This includes:

• The 50 United States
• District of Columbia
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands

This coverage is defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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What Happens When You Dial 911 Outside Supported Areas

Iridium 911 service does not work outside of the United States and its territories.

For example, 911 calls will not connect in Canada.

If you dial 911 outside the supported region:

• Your call will not connect to an emergency call center
• You will hear a recorded message instructing you to hang up
• You must dial a local emergency number instead

If you are traveling outside the United States, you should obtain local emergency numbers before leaving cellular coverage.

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How Iridium 911 Service Works

When you dial 911 from an Iridium device within a supported region, your call is routed to the Intrado emergency call center.

During the call:

• An emergency operator answers and gathers key information
• You will be asked for your emergency details, name, location, and callback number
• The operator identifies the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
• Your call is transferred to the local emergency service

Translation services are available if you are not fluent in English.

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How to Dial 911 on an Iridium Device

To place an emergency call using your Iridium device:

1. Turn on the device
2. Extend or rotate the antenna
3. Dial 911
4. Press OK or the call button

Do not dial access prefixes such as 698 or 2888 when making a 911 call.

This applies to all SIM types, including prepaid and crew calling SIM cards.

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Does 911 Require an Active SIM Card

Yes. An active SIM card and active service are required to place a 911 call from an Iridium device.

Devices without a SIM card or without active service cannot access 911.

This requirement is based on FCC regulations for mobile satellite services.

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What Happens If Your 911 Call Drops

If your 911 call is disconnected before you provide your details, the emergency call center may not be able to identify your location or contact you.

If your call drops:

• If no location or number was provided, the call cannot be traced
• If your location was shared, the operator will contact the appropriate emergency service
• If your callback number (MSISDN) was provided, the operator will attempt to call you back up to three times

For this reason, always provide your location and callback number as early as possible during the call.

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Additional Questions About Iridium 911

Do I need my service provider to enable 911?
No. Iridium ensures that 911 service is available to all eligible subscribers.

Does Iridium support other emergency numbers?
Yes. Iridium supports 000 and 112 within mainland Australia.

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