DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026 for Satellite Phones and Satellite Communication

If you are a ship owner or ship operator or you work on a ship in any capacity, you must know about this. DGMA has come out with a new order called DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026 and it was issued on 11th March 2026.You may also want to read about DGMA Circular 12 of 2026 and DGMA Circular 13 of 2026 to stay updated on all recent DGMA directives. 

 This order is about satellite communication equipment on ships that are operating in Indian coastal waters. And if you are not complying with this, you can get into very serious trouble. Let us understand what this order is actually saying.

So, What Is This DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026 for Satellite Phones and Satellite Communication Actually About?

DGMA is basically saying that there are already rules about satellite phones and satellite communication devices on ships in Indian waters, but people are still not following them properly. This is why DGMA has now come out with this 2026 order, which builds on the earlier DGMA Order No. 09 of 2023.

 The whole idea is to make sure that satellite communication equipment is being used properly, declared properly, and authorized properly. This is being done for maritime safety as well as national security. Now you might be wondering why national security is a part of this. We will get to that as we go further.

Understanding DGMA in Satellite Phones and Satellite Communication

Back in 2023, DGMA came out with Order No. 09. That order made two things very clear. First, Iridium based satellite communication equipment is allowed in Indian waters but only for Distress and Safety communications under GMDSS, which is the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. You can read more about international conventions, including GMDSS to understand the broader framework. Second, Thuraya satellite equipment is completely banned in Indian waters. And that ban on Thuraya is still very much in place today.

Now after that 2023 order, some international organizations came forward and asked about ships that are part of the WMO Voluntary Observing Ship Scheme, also called the VOS Scheme. These ships send out weather and meteorological data so they have a very specific use case. 

Because of this, DGMA clarified in November 2023 and again in March 2024 that yes, those ships can use Iridium GMDSS equipment for transmitting weather and safety related information. Also, Automatic Weather Stations installed under SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 5 using non-GMDSS Iridium equipment are also allowed. But only because those systems are standalone, they cannot make voice calls, and they only transmit binary weather data. Nothing personal, nothing commercial. Just weather data.

Quick Reference Table: Satellite Equipment Status Under DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026

Equipment / Device	Status in Indian Waters	Allowed Use	Declaration in PANS Required?	Action if Found Unauthorized
Fixed Iridium GMDSS Terminal (RMSS Approved)	Allowed	Distress & Safety communications only under GMDSS	Not required	N/A
Iridium Equipment under WMO VOS Scheme (Automatic Weather Station)	Conditionally Allowed	Transmitting binary weather data only :no voice calls	Not required (if compliant with 2023/2024 conditions)	Must comply with specific conditions
Thuraya Satellite Equipment (any type)	Completely Banned	No use permitted whatsoever	Cannot be declared :banned outright	Immediate action by Indian authorities
Personal / Portable Iridium Satellite Phone	Cannot Be Used	No personal or commercial communication	Must be declared with IMEI & ESN	Taken into Master’s custody and sealed upon arrival
Zoleo Satellite Messaging Device	Not Permitted	No use permitted in Indian coastal waters	Must be declared	Treated as a national security violation
Any Unauthorized Satellite Communication Device	Not Permitted	No use permitted	Must be declared	Infringement notice + penalties under Telecom Act 2023 & MS Act 2025

Then Why Was a New DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026 Needed for Satellite Phones and Satellite Communication?

Even after all those clarifications in 2023 and 2024, violations kept happening. Security agencies kept reporting that ships and crew members were carrying unauthorized satellite phones and satellite enabled messaging devices without declaring them and without getting them authorized. And that is a serious problem.

Now there were also specific reports about something called Zoleo devices being used on ships. Now Zoleo is basically a satellite messaging device. It connects to your smartphone and lets you send messages even when you have no cellular network. Sounds useful right? But if you are using it on a ship in Indian coastal waters without authorization, that is a direct violation. And it is being treated as a national security threat.

Now, here is why this becomes such a big concern. India does not have Iridium gateways or ground stations within its region. What this means is that if someone on a ship is communicating through an Iridium based portable device, Indian authorities have no way to monitor or trace those communications. They simply cannot. And when you cannot monitor communications happening in your own waters, that becomes a very serious security concern. This is exactly why DGMA has come out with this 2026 order and made compliance non-negotiable.

India does not have Iridium gateways or ground stations within its region. Because of this, if someone is communicating through an Iridium based portable device, Indian authorities simply cannot monitor or trace those communications at all. This is exactly why DGMA has come out with this 2026 order and made compliance non-negotiable.

What Are the Actual Rules for Satellite Phones and Satellite Communication after DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026?

Every mobile satellite communication device that enters Indian coastal waters must be properly licensed and authorized. No exceptions. If you are on an Indian flag vessel, your equipment needs to comply with all applicable Indian regulatory requirements. If you are on a foreign flag vessel, your equipment should be licensed by your Flag State, and even then its use in Indian coastal waters is restricted strictly to permitted GMDSS functions only. You cannot use it beyond that.

Now every portable satellite communication device on your vessel, whether it belongs to the ship or to an individual crew member personally, must be declared in the Pre-Arrival Notification of Security, which is called PANS. And when you declare it, you need to give full details. Make, model, IMEI number, ESN number, everything. Now there is one exception here. Fixed satellite equipment that is already approved under RMSS, which is the Recognised Mobile Satellite Service, does not need to be declared in PANS.

But suppose a crew member has a personal satellite communication device that is not part of the ship’s official GMDSS station. That device cannot be used in Indian coastal waters at all. And if such a device is found onboard, the Master of the ship is responsible for taking it into custody. Indian authorities can seal it upon arrival. So if you are thinking of carrying a personal satellite phone onboard without declaring it, it will be found and it will be sealed.

Also any satellite communication equipment or service you use must come from manufacturers, dealers, and service providers who are properly authorized and licensed. Understanding the ease of doing business in India framework can help operators identify who qualifies as a properly licensed dealer or service provider. You cannot just pick up any device from anywhere and bring it onboard.

Who Does This DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026 Apply To?

This order applies to everyone involved in ship operations in Indian waters. It applies to all Indian flag ships and vessels operating in Indian coastal waters and ports. It applies to all foreign flag ships calling at or transiting through Indian coastal waters and ports. It applies to all Ship owners and Ship Operatorss onboard as part of the crew. And it also applies to all shore based personnel who are onboard for installation, maintenance, or any operational activities related to the vessel.Shore based personnel and recruiting agents should also be aware of why RPSL licenses get cancelled and must ensure proper EC filing procedures are in place as part of their broader compliance responsibilities.

The only exception is ships that carry satellite equipment exclusively for Automatic Weather Stations under the WMO VOS Scheme. But even they have to comply with the specific conditions laid out in the earlier clarifications.

Also when this order says Indian Coastal Waters, it is referring to coastal waters as defined under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.

What Happens If You Do Not Comply With the DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026?

If your ship is found non-compliant, meaning you failed to declare a satellite device or you used one without authorization, DGMA will issue an infringement notice. And that is just the beginning. Penalties will be imposed under two laws at the same time. First is Section 31 of the Indian Telecommunications Act, 2023. Second is Entry No. 45 of Section 281, Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. Both telecom law and maritime law will come after you at the same time. That is not a situation you want to be in.

Quick Summary: What You Must Remember With Respect to DGMA Order No. 02 of 2026?

Fixed Iridium GMDSS terminals that are approved under RMSS are allowed. Thuraya equipment is completely banned with no exceptions. Personal portable satellite phones cannot be used in Indian waters, must be declared in PANS with full details, and will be sealed by authorities upon arrival.

 Zoleo devices used for messaging are a violation. Undeclared satellite devices of any kind are a serious violation with penalties under both telecom and maritime law. And all of this applies equally to both Indian and foreign flag vessels.

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