Nobody thinks they have a "satellite phone", they just don't know much about communications technology, and so going via space seems as sensible as anything els

Nobody thinks they have a "satellite phone", they just don't know much about communications technology, and so going via space seems as sensible as anything else. Have you seen the Louis C.K. bit the parent is referring to? It's a joke, but the joke is that people are annoyed with their phone being slow despite it "going to space".