[mikestew]

From TFA: "... and if you can see the sky, you're good to go."

And if a frog had wings, it wouldn't bump its ass when it hops. Anyone that has used a SPOT or InReach satellite device knows it doesn't take much tree cover to make a satellite connection difficult or impossible. As just one example, there are plenty of places on Cougar Mountain near Issaquah, WA that have a dandy cell connection, but it would take minutes (possibly many) to get a satellite message sent. And that's using a low-bandwidth text message, not a voice call.

Also TFA: "Aviation and maritime people know this, which is why they use satellites." You know what you don't see a lot of when you're boating or flying a plane? Trees and cell towers. Perhaps there's another reason, El Reg.