Satellite phones were a vital communications link during the September 11th catastrophe in New York and Washington, sparking renewed interest in two struggling firms in the sector.
Two firms that offer satellite telephone service, Iridium Satellite LLC and Globalstar, said they had seen a surge in sales and inquiries since the attacks, which also knocked out some cellular and conventional telephone services in New York and Washington.
Both services rely on networks of low-orbiting satellites and are able to serve remote areas of the world without traditional communications networks.
But they are also marketed as a backup service for areas hit by disasters, which often cut most communication links.
New York-based Globalstar, a consortium headed by the aerospace group Loral, said it also provided phones through its distribution partners for the rescue-and-relief effort.
"In the immediate aftermath, cellular infrastructure lost a lot of antennas in lower Manhattan, so a lot of people turned to satellite," said Globalstar spokesman Mr Mac Jeffery.
"We had rescue workers and hospitals seeking phones. A lot of news agencies used them. Some TV station had purchased the phones just for this type of situation. We saw a huge spike in traffic in lower Manhattan," Mr Jeffery said. AFP