To penalise anyone using satellite phones without authorisation
The government of India has threatened to penalise anyone using satellite phones in the country without necessary authorisation.
On Monday, it issued a warning to traders and visitors to the country against transporting or using satellite phones.
A statement issued by the Indian Consulate in Dubai on behalf of the Indian government said as per the Indian Telegraph Act and existing guidelines, Thuraya Satellite set phone service is not permitted in India and anyone using any telegraphic devices, including Satphone, violates section four of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the person can be can be penalised.
The directive comes a day after India gave internet telephony pioneer Skype and the makers of BlackBerry handsets a deadline to fall in line with strict security-monitoring regulations.
According to a report in Economic Times, India’s intelligence officials have long complained that they are unable to decipher encrypted data sent on BlackBerry handsets, made by Canadian firm Research in Motion, or intercept calls on Skype.
The government has threatened to ban or block BlackBerry and Skype services if the companies fail to adhere to a 15-day deadline to make data available in formats that can be monitored.
India has also in the past accused militant movements of using satellite telephones for communications.
Emirates Business
