Don't travel to India with satellite devices: UAE warns

The United Arab Emirates has warned its nationals not to carry any satellite communication devices such as Thuraya and Iridium while travelling to India.

Eisa Abdullah Masoud Al Kalbani, Director of the Department of Nationals' Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, yesterday said that India has banned the use of satellite communication devices on its soil since 2010.

He said anyone found in possession of such devices would be held legally accountable.
"This applies to both holder of the device and recipient if, for example, devices are sent through the postal or similar service. The regulation comes under Section 6 of the Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of the Indian Telegraph Act. Indian authorities have stated that the ban also applies to Indian waters even if landfall is not made," he said in a statement released on UAE's official news agency Wam.

He said that the warning stems from his duty to provide all necessary advice and warnings to protect UAE nationals from violations, accidental or otherwise, or of being subjected to security accountability or any troubles or hindrances they might encounter abroad.