Leh, Jan 14: In a decisive move aimed at reinforcing tourist safety and streamlining operational mechanisms in one of the country’s most challenging terrains, the Department of Tourism, Union Territory of Ladakh has issued a detailed circular formally notifying the Standard Operating Procedures for the procurement of satellite phones by private tour operators and other eligible tourism stakeholders for tourism related purposes.
The landmark initiative assumes significance in the context of Ladakh’s vast, remote and high altitude geography, where conventional communication networks often fail, posing risks to both tourists and service providers. By institutionalising a clear and regulated framework, the administration has sought to bridge critical communication gaps while ensuring strict adherence to national security protocols governing satellite based services.
Administrative Secretary Tourism Sanjit Rodrigues stated that the newly notified SOP reflects the firm commitment of the Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh towards promoting safe, responsible and well regulated tourism in the region. He underlined that reliable communication is a crucial requirement for tourism operations in remote areas and that the procedure has been designed to facilitate access to such technology without compromising security considerations.
According to the circular, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Leh has been designated as the single window agency for the entire process of procurement of satellite phones. BSNL Leh will be responsible for receiving applications, scrutinising documentation and obtaining all mandatory statutory and security clearances from the concerned authorities, including central security agencies wherever applicable. The SOP lays out a transparent, step by step mechanism, beginning with the submission of applications and culminating in the issuance of demand notes and eventual activation of satellite phone services.
Officials familiar with the development said the SOP ensures full compliance with national security guidelines governing the use of satellite communication devices, particularly in border and sensitive areas such as Ladakh. At the same time, the streamlined procedure is expected to significantly reduce the administrative burden on private tour operators and tourism stakeholders who earlier faced procedural complexities and delays due to multiple layers of clearances.
The circular also clarifies that the role of the Department of Tourism is limited to prescribing and disseminating the procedure for the benefit of tourism stakeholders. All matters related to application processing, technical specifications, activation, usage guidelines and other operational aspects of satellite phone services will be handled directly by BSNL in accordance with prevailing norms and instructions issued by the Government of India.
The issuance of the SOP is being viewed as a timely intervention as Ladakh continues to witness a steady rise in domestic and international tourist inflow, particularly for adventure and nature based tourism in remote regions. With dependable communication often proving to be the difference between safety and crisis in such environments, the regulated availability of satellite phones is expected to add a crucial layer of preparedness for tour operators and tourism service providers operating in the Union Territory, officials said.
