Satellite Phones
Do Not Have 911 Capability
The following is an excerpt of a satellite phone update from the Emergency Program Coordinator in Whistler:
"To sum up the results of the inquiry into Satellite Phones & 911, it appears that because Iridium is an international satellite system that interconnects to the public telephone from a gateway that is located out of our region, there is no capability to dial 911 from a satellite phone in Canada."
We recommend to anyone entering the backcountry where cell phone coverage is unavailable, to take the local 10-digit non-emergency number for police. Please let others know about the lack of 911 service from satellite phones when recreating out of cell phone range.