How to Make Calls Using a BGAN Phone

All calls made from the BGAN phone are considered ‘international’ calls. If you’ve never made one before, it can be a bit confusing. This tutorial will help you make your first call and show you how to to call a BGAN phone from anywhere.

Every BGAN terminal is assigned a 9-digit international telephone number along with a 3-digit country code. The country code for all BGAN phones is 870. BGAN phone numbers can be called from any phone on the planet. If you do not know your BGAN phone number, please contact your BGAN service provider or Ground Control.

Making a call FROM a BGAN phone

To make a call from a BGAN phone into the United States, dial the United States country code (001), and then the area code, and then the phone number. Also, you may need to finish the number by pressing the # (pound) key on the phone if the phone does not begin to dial.

Example – (Calling a U.S. Phone Number from a BGAN Phone): 001 805 783 4600 #
In this example, 805 is an area code in the U.S., and the # key on the phone is sometimes used to tell Inmarsat you have finished entering the phone number.

For calling into another country:
Dial the country code then the full phone or fax number. To locate the country code that you are calling into, please visit https://www.itu.int/oth/T0202.aspx?parent=T0202.

Making a call TO a BGAN phone

To call a BGAN phone from the United States, dial 011 and then Inmarsat’s country code of 870 then the 9 digit BGAN phone number. Note that 870 is the Country Code for all Inmarsat phones.

Example 1 – (Calling a BGAN Phone from the U.S): 011 870 772520732

From outside United States please use this tool to help you find the correct number sequence.

Example 2 – (Calling a BGAN Phone From Afghanistan): 00 870 772520732

Each country is different, however many countries use 00 plus the country code. We also recommend using this tool to help you find the correct number sequence. If this doesn’t work, you may always ask for assistance from an operator to help connect. You only need to know the 870 country code and the 9 digit BGAN phone number for the operator to connect you.

Note – While the BGAN account will not be charged for any incoming calls placed to it, the calling party WILL pay for satellite BGAN phone rates. Charges vary widely between phone providers from $1 to $10 U.S. per minute, and some phone providers block international calling. The calling party can ask their phone provider for their international plan rate to “Inmarsat” which has its own Country Code of 870. Phone providers often have small international plans that can be added to avoid paying any exorbitant per-minute fees. Also consider adding a local number for the BGAN phone.

BGAN to BGAN – Making a call FROM a BGAN phone TO a BGAN phone

To place calls between BGAN phones, dial 00-870-?????????#

Example 3 – Dial 00-870-772520732# … Note the # Pound Key at the end is sometimes used to tell Inmarsat you have finished entering the phone number on a standard analog phone.
 

Accessing BGAN Voice Mail

BGAN voice mail be accessed by calling 570 (short code) or 00-870-772001899 from a BGAN phone or 011-870-772001899 from any other phone. When prompted, you will be asked for your BGAN phone number when prompted, as well as the VoiceMail PIN number supplied by Ground Control. Here is information on setting up BGAN Voicemail.

An Excellent Tool For ALL BGAN Calling

This handy website helps find the exact number sequence you need in order to place a call to or from a BGAN phone from anywhere in the world. Please use “INMARSAT” as the country you are calling to or from.

www.countrycallingcodes.com

On this web page, you may
 
Example 4… If you are calling a BGAN Inmarsat phone:

1. Under “Where are you calling from”, select the country you are calling from.
2. Under where are you calling to, select “Inmarsat”. (It isn’t a country, but Inmarsat is listed).
3. Click on Submit.
4. On the screen that appears, you should have the prefix numbers before the 870 Inmarsat international number and then the 9 digit BGAN number.

 
Example 5… If you are calling from a BGAN Inmarsat phone:

1. Under “Where are you calling from”, select “Inmarsat”.
2. Under “Where are you calling to”, select the country you are calling.
3. Click on Submit.
4. On the screen that appears, choose the pull down window labeled “City Info…” and choose SNAC (Single Network Access Code). That number and the 9 digit BGAN number should connect you.

Add a Local Number to a BGAN Phone

The BGAN phone number is an international number that looks like: 011-870-772520732. You have the option of adding a local number (from any country) that connects the caller to the BGAN phone. This service pays for the cost of the call and is helpful for those that desire a simple local number and not charging the calling party for a BGAN call.