Radio, satellite and phone coverage

Remote trips mean patchy phone signal, and the usual answer, a satellite messenger, is restricted in India. A good plan uses what is legal and reliable: your phone, offline maps, licence-free radios and people who know where you are.

These notes are for Jimny drivers in India. The restrictions come from a Department of Telecom notice, Indian embassy notices and news reports, and they can change. This is not legal advice, and you should check before relying on any device.

By Gypsy Overlanding Family ®

Phoneplan around thegaps in coverage446 MHzlicence-freehandheldsNo satsatellite devicesare restricted
Plan with the phone, licence-free radios and people on the outside, and leave satellite devices at home.

The short answer

Do not carry a satellite phone or an inReach-style satellite messenger in India. Satellite phones need a licence from the Department of Telecom, Iridium and Thuraya phones are banned, and satellite messengers have led to arrests. Use a phone plan, offline maps, licence-free radios and a check-in routine instead.

Do

  • Tell someone your route and return time
  • Download offline maps and keep power banks
  • Use licence-free 446 MHz handhelds in a convoy
  • Know the emergency numbers
  • Plan for stretches with no signal

Do not

  • Carry a satellite phone or messenger without checking
  • Rely on a single phone network
  • Use high-power unapproved radios
  • Go remote alone with no plan
  • Assume you will have signal

Phone coverage

  • Coverage is patchy in the mountains, forests and deserts, and often differs between networks
  • Check the coverage maps for the routes you plan, and think about carrying a second network
  • Download offline maps and your route before you leave
  • Share your live location where you have signal, and send a message when you reach a village
  • Carry power banks and a car charger. A dead phone is no help
  • Know the numbers: 112 is the national emergency number, and many states also use 108 for ambulances

Licence-free radios

For talking between cars, a licence-free 446 MHz handheld is the legal option. A Department of Telecom notice says such devices must be 500 mW or less, handheld, peer to peer, with no repeaters or base stations, and type approved. They suit a convoy over short distances, but they will not reach help. See the convoy and radio guide.

Ham radio needs an amateur licence, and can reach further. It is a skill and a hobby in itself, so look into it before you rely on it.

Satellite devices in India

The rules here are strict. India's Department of Telecom says satellite phones need a prior licence, and Indian embassy notices say Thuraya and Iridium phones are banned and may be seized, with prosecution under the Indian Telegraph Act and Wireless Telegraphy Act. News reports say satellite messengers such as the Garmin inReach, which use the Iridium network, are also treated as illegal, and that a trail runner was arrested in Goa in December 2024 for carrying one.

  • Do not bring or buy one without checking with the authorities
  • The rule applies to Indian citizens as well as visitors, according to a report
  • Phones and watches with their own satellite emergency features may fall in a grey area, so check before you depend on them
This is a summary of reports and not legal advice. If you think you need a satellite device, ask the Department of Telecom first.

A communication plan

  1. Tell someone your route, your daily stops and when to raise the alarm
  2. Agree check-in times, and what happens if you miss one
  3. Travel with a second car on remote routes
  4. Carry paper and offline maps, and a whistle and torch for signalling
  5. Know your fallback, such as the nearest village, checkpost or pump

Pick your trip

Tap a trip to see a sensible communication plan.

Tap a trip (5 to try)

Plan for Near towns

Plan
-
Details
-

Common mistakes

  • Carrying a satellite messenger. It has led to arrests in India.
  • Relying on one phone network. Coverage differs widely.
  • Using a 5 W radio sold as licence-free. It breaks the power limit.
  • Not telling anyone the plan. No one will know to look.
  • Leaving offline maps to chance. Download them at home.
  • Going remote alone. A breakdown becomes an emergency.
A final word. Restrictions on satellite devices in India are serious and have led to arrests. This summary is from official notices and news reports and is not legal advice. Check with the Department of Telecom before carrying any satellite device, and plan your trip so you can manage without one.