Motorola reckons it has the solution for farmers dogged by ropey phone signal when working in the sticks.

The firm’s Defy Satellite Link is a key-fob-sized gadget that can be paired wirelessly via Bluetooth to any up-to-date smartphone, allowing owners to send and receive text messages, and share their location, via satellite.

Though satellite-based calls and messages have traditionally been prohibitively expensive, and their use therefore limited to those conducting life-or-death expeditions over mountains, deserts, ice fields and oceans, running a Defy is decidedly cheaper.

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The unit itself costs £159, and monthly subscriptions are based on the number of messages required.

The cheapest is the “essential” package, which provides 30 messages in exchange for £4.99/month.

“Everyday” ups that to 80 messages and £9.99, while the “premium” pack includes 300 messages for £29.99/month.

These messages are sent via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app when cellular signal and wifi are not available.

Recipients without the app receive a standard text and are invited to download the associated Android or iOS app to respond.

Alongside the messaging facility, the Defy Satellite Link has an SOS function, via a dedicated button on the side, that sends the location of the device to a chosen phone number or an emergency service.

As it is built for outside use, the tough design features IP68 dust ingress protection, it has been drop-tested to 2m on steel, and is waterproof to 1.5m for half an hour. The battery should last up to four hours.