An American citizen was arrested at Srinagar airport in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, allegedly due to a satellite phone being found in his possession.
Another person was accompanying the American citizen. He was also detained at the airport but was apparently released after interrogation.
This is not the first time a foreign national has been arrested for possession of a satellite phone in India. But this raises a question: Is the use of such devices prohibited in the country? If so, why?
Are satellite phones banned in India?
Although satellite phones are not “banned” in India in the sense that they are completely illegal, their use is severely restricted.
According to the Telecommunications Act 2023, a satellite phone cannot be legally operated in the country without obtaining a prior license or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the country. Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Even after that, satellite services provided by BSNL (Inmarsat) are generally permitted with appropriate permits. The use of any other satellite phones, such as the Thuraya and Iridium phones, is strictly prohibited.
For foreign nationals, any satellite phone brought into the country must be declared to the Customs Department. Failure to do so may result in heavy fines and even arrest. Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have issued advice to their citizens in this regard.
“The Department of State urgently advises U.S. citizens not to bring satellite phones or GPS devices when traveling to or through India. This does not include regular cell phones. Failure to comply can result in immediate arrest, significant fines, device confiscation, deportation, and significant travel delays.” 2025, the US State Department said in a notice.
Why is the use of satellite phones restricted in India?
The use of satellite phones is severely restricted in India due to national security concerns. Such devices pose significant challenges to law enforcement and intelligence agencies, because they bypass local communications infrastructure.
Authorities in sensitive areas such as Jammu and Kashmir have a “zero tolerance” policy regarding such devices to prevent insurgents from using unmonitored communications lines.
Security protocols regarding satellite phones were significantly tightened in the wake of the events 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. During the horrific siege, terrorists used Thuraya satellite phones to communicate with their handlers in Pakistan, making it difficult for Indian authorities to track and intercept real-time coordination.
