A US national was arrested at Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar airport on Sunday for possessing a satellite phone, sparking questions about the use of such devices in India.
While satellite phones are not entirely banned, their use is heavily restricted in the country.
According to the Telecommunications Act 2023, a satellite phone cannot be legally operated in India without a prior license or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Even after obtaining the necessary permits, only satellite services provided by BSNL (Inmarsat) are generally permissible. The use of other satellite phones, like Thuraya and Iridium, is completely banned.
Foreign nationals are required to declare any satellite phone brought into the country at the customs department, failure to do so may result in heavy fines and arrest.
Countries like the United States and the UK have issued advisories to their citizens regarding the use of satellite phones in India.
The use of satellite phones is restricted due to national security concerns, as they pose significant challenges for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The security protocols regarding satellite phones were tightened following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, during which terrorists used Thuraya satellite phones to communicate with handlers in Pakistan.
