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Friday, July 04, 2008

Banned in India

Blackberry
Whew
iPhone 3G
You can't use broadband mobile devices such as the new Apple iPhone 3G in India, since there are policy impediments holding back 3G. Some mobile phone vendors are fully ready with the equipment but are prohibited from rolling out services owing to the policy bottlenecks.
Satellite telephones
Satellite phones like Iridium, Thruraya, ISAT (from Inmarsat), BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) are banned in India. By Indian law, all calls made out from India should be able to be traced and also the user should be known. Only one particular laptop-sized satellite phone called the `Mini-M' is allowed for Government and PSU use only. This phone has been discontinued so even government / PSU customers can no longer buy a satphone. This phone also needed a specific license from the Wireless Public Commission (WPC) which makes case-to-case decisions. Further, the terminal could be activated by only one firm - VSNL.
Paypal
Starting a firm which does intra-India payments services using ideas such as Paypal is prohibited by RBI. E.g. India is not on Paypal's list of `localised sites'.
Currency futures
Interest rate futures
Credit derivatives
`We thought about it, and they're still banned'
Repos on corporate bonds
...

11 comments:

  1. The last five almost made me feel pathetic :)


    Paypal,Currency Futures takes the prize though!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ajay,

    VSNL is now Tata Communications and we still do provide INMARSAT connections. But yes, you do need Government clearance for the same.

    ReplyDelete
  3. More to the list
    1) Ban on futures in Wheat, Rice, potatoes, soy oil, rubber and chickpeas etc
    2) Ban on export of rice,onion wheat, oil, cement etc on whim of the ministry concerned

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous,

    Mini-M has no more manufactured so you (Tata Communications nee VSNL) are only left with activation of M4 Gan terminals, where manufacturing is only on special and high volume orders.

    Basically, India is way behind in satellite communications due to these restrictions. India being such a huge country with difficult terrain, so allowing these phones can make these areas so much more accessible.

    ReplyDelete
  5. India may be free politically but it does not have civil and economic freedom.
    A nation that does not have economic freedom will end up with even less political freedom as we have been seeing consistently.
    The pathetic Indian media needs to grow up and start reporting the failures of this government so completely bogged down by the failed ideology of communism.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lets ban few more things -
    1. Carvan of vehicles following ministers and babus.
    2. The palatial houses to accomodate M.P's and babus.
    3. Politics of votebank.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hope earning for a living doesn't get banned.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We actually need less of government, unfortunately the bloody congress treats its citizens as beggars since day one.

    When majority of Indians fear questioning and lack assertiveness, isnt our educational system failing in creating more than avg citizens.

    As Sivaji (Rajani baba) says only pigs live in herds.

    ReplyDelete
  9. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF I SAY THAT MANY PRIVATE AIRPLANES IN INDIA USE IRIDIUM PHONES

    ReplyDelete

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