I found this online.
Satellite Telephones and 911
The 911 service in the US/Canada and 411 in some other countries have become very
well know for contacting Public Emergency Services. However, when using a satellite
telephone, it is important to know how 911 systems operate.
911 virtual number based on a locally provided service and implemented at the city or
county level telephone switch. When someone on a local phone dials 911, the call is
routed to the local emergency number programmed at your local switchboard. It was
mandated that this local service be made available in telephone switches and paid for
with a tax on your telephone bill. They are easy to route because it is always a local
service and never leaves the local area.
When using a satellite telephone like Globalstar or Iridium, what would a 911 mean to
them? Not much, except you have a problem. These are not local telephone companies;
their service area coverage is continents in the case of Globalstar and the world for
Iridium. Globalstar has a 911 number on their telephone switch and Iridium does not
offer one. In either case, you must remember that they do not know where you are and it
is unlikely that they know what the number is needed to contact local emergency services
wherever you are located.
Therefore, before you go on your trip, you should write down the local emergency
services that you are likely to need and keep those numbers with the phone.
Programming the numbers into the telephones phone book is even a better idea.
D</O
