India, April 19 -- A US national was arrested at Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar airport on Sunday, due to having a satellite phone in his possession.

Another person, who was accompanying the US national, was also detained at the airport but was apparently let go after interrogation.

This is not the first time that a foreign national has been arrested for possession of a satellite phone in India. But this begs a question: Is the use of such devices banned in the country? And if so, why?

While satellite phones are not "banned" in India in the sense of being entirely illegal, their use is heavily restricted.

According to the Telecommunications Act 2023, a satellite phone cannot be legally operated in the country without a prior license or ...