Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of routing a call between a first terminal which is a mobile terminal (5) and a second terminal (4) in a global telecommunications network, it being possible for the call to be routed in the global network a)—at least in part through a satellite telecommunications network (1) using base stations (2, 3) giving access to satellites, and b) —at least in part through a terrestrial telecommunications network (PSTN) connected to the base stations (2, 3), each satellite (1) in the satellite telecommunications network defining an overall coverage area covering a plurality of base stations, the overall coverage area defining a plurality of coverage sub-areas, each of which is associated with a respective one of the base stations (2, 3).

Abstract: A method for enabling encrypted communication to be performed directly in a single hop or merely directly between two terminals of a mobile radio network by satellite and/or of the GSM/DCS type, after one of said terminals has called via a fixed radio station of the network. After a first encryption stage, performed in conventional manner, a cipher key is simultaneously generated by the identity card associated with the calling terminal and by the network control structure for encrypting/decrypting data transmitted over the radio link between said calling terminal and the station. This cipher key is then stored in a memory of the station so as to be transmitted to the called terminal when a radio link is set up between said station and said called terminal for the call requested by the calling terminal, and the key is used for the purpose of encrypting/decrypting the data interchanged between the calling and called terminals.