Is the usage of satellite tv for pc telephones banned in India? Restrictions defined| India Information
A US nationwide was arrested at Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar airport on Sunday, as a result of having a satellite tv for pc telephone in his possession.
One other individual, who was accompanying the US nationwide, was additionally detained on the airport however was apparently let go after interrogation.
This isn’t the primary time {that a} international nationwide has been arrested for possession of a satellite tv for pc telephone in India. However this begs a query: Is the usage of such units banned within the nation? And in that case, why?
Are satellite tv for pc telephones banned in India?
Whereas satellite tv for pc telephones aren’t “banned” in India within the sense of being fully unlawful, their use is closely restricted.
In response to the Telecommunications Act 2023, a satellite tv for pc telephone can’t be legally operated within the nation and not using a prior license or a No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the Division of Telecommunications (DoT).
Even after that, solely satellite tv for pc companies offered by BSNL (Inmarsat) are typically permissible with the suitable permits. The usage of every other satellite tv for pc telephones, like Thuraya and Iridium, is totally banned.
For international nationals, any satellite tv for pc telephone introduced into the nation should be declared on the customs division. Failure to take action would possibly end in heavy fines and even arrest. Nations like the USA and the UK have issued advisories to their residents on this regard.
“The Division of State urgently advises US residents to not carry satellite tv for pc telephones or GPS units when travelling to or via India. This doesn’t embrace common cell telephones. Failure to conform may end up in instant arrest, massive fines, the confiscation of the system, deportation, and vital journey delays,” the US State Division mentioned in a 2025 discover.
Why is the usage of satellite tv for pc telephones restricted in India?
The usage of satellite tv for pc telephones is closely restricted in India as a result of nationwide safety considerations. Such units pose vital challenges for regulation enforcement and intelligence companies, as they bypass native telecommunications infrastructure.
Authorities in delicate areas like Jammu and Kashmir have a “zero tolerance” coverage relating to such units to stop insurgents from utilizing unmonitored communication strains.
The safety protocols relating to satellite tv for pc telephones had been considerably tightened following the 2008 Mumbai terror assaults. In the course of the horrific siege, terrorists used Thuraya satellite tv for pc telephones to speak with handlers in Pakistan, making it troublesome for Indian authorities to trace and intercept their coordination in actual time.
