Iridium - Dialing 911 FAQ

This article explains how emergency 911 dialing works on Iridium handsets, where it is supported, and what to expect when placing an emergency call.

Where 911 is supported

Iridium subscribers can dial 911 when physically located within the United States and its FCC-defined territories:

• The 50 United States

• District of Columbia

• Puerto Rico

• U.S. Virgin Islands

Important: Iridium 911 service does not work in Canada. Customers traveling in Canada should obtain local emergency numbers before leaving cellular coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I dial 911 outside the supported territory?

If you dial 911 outside the supported territory, the call will not connect to an emergency call center. Instead, the call will terminate with a recorded message instructing you to hang up and dial the appropriate emergency provider or your service provider directly.

Does my service provider need to enable 911 for it to work?

No. Emergency 911 service does not need to be provisioned by your service provider. Iridium ensures that all eligible subscribers have access to emergency 911 services.

How does Iridium emergency 911 service work?

When you dial “911” from an Iridium handset:

• The call is routed to the Intrado emergency 911 call center

• A trained operator answers and asks for:

  • The nature of the emergency

  • Your name

  • Your callback number

  • Your location

• The operator identifies the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)

• The operator contacts the PSAP, relays the information, and transfers your call

If you are not fluent in English, the emergency call center can use a language translation service to assist.

How do I dial 911 from an Iridium handset?

To place an emergency call:

• Power on the handset

• Extend or rotate the antenna

• Dial “9 1 1” and press “OK”

If you are using a prepaid SIM or a crew calling SIM, you still dial “9 1 1.”

Important: Do not dial access codes such as “698” or “2888” before dialing 911.

Can I call 911 without a SIM card?

No. Active service and a valid SIM card are required. FCC rules do not require mobile satellite service providers to support emergency calling from uninitialized handsets.

What happens if my call drops or is disconnected?

If the call drops, is disconnected, or you hang up before providing your callback number or location:

• The call center cannot call you back or locate you

If you provided your location:

• The call center will still contact the appropriate PSAP and share the information collected

If you provided your MSISDN (callback number):

• The call center will attempt to call you back up to three times

• The call center will still contact the PSAP even if they cannot reach you

The operator will always request your location first, followed by your callback number.

Additional emergency numbers

Iridium also supports:

• Triple Zero (000)

• 112

These emergency numbers are supported within mainland Australia.