ISP license in India

isp license in india In India, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license is required to legally offer internet services. The license is issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under a Unified License Types of ISP licenses ISP licenses are categorized based on their geographic coverage. Category A (National): Allows you to operate nationwide across all of India. Category B (Telecom Circle/Metro): Authorizes operations within a specific state or metro area, such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai. Category C (Secondary Switching Area): Grants permission to operate in a specific district or small town area. Eligibility criteria To be eligible to apply for an ISP license, you must: Be an Indian company registered under the Companies Act of 2013. Mention "Internet Service Provider" in the company's Memorandum of Association (MoA). The application process You must apply for an ISP Authorization under a Unified License through the DoT's online portal, SARAL SANCHAR. The typical process includes several steps Register your company. You must first register a private or public limited company. Choose the license category that fits your business plan (Category A, B, or C). Submit an online application via the SARAL SANCHAR portal. Pay the non-refundable processing fee. The amount depends on the category of license. Await the Letter of Intent (LoI). The DoT will review your application and, if approved, issue an LoI, usually within 60 days. Fulfill the LoI requirements. This involves paying the one-time entry fee and submitting the required bank guarantees (Performance and Financial). Sign the license agreement with the DoT. Receive your Unified License, which is valid for 20 years. Required documents While requirements can vary, some common documents include: Certificate of Incorporation Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA) Board of Directors' resolution for the application Details of directors, promoters, and shareholders Net worth certificate from a Chartered Accountant (for financial eligibility) Technical and network infrastructure plans Bank guarantees (Performance and Financial) as per the license category Fees and charges The specific fees depend on the license category. For a quick estimate, here are the non-refundable entry fees and bank guarantee requirements: Category A (National): Entry Fee: ₹30 Lakhs Performance Bank Guarantee: ₹2 Crores Financial Bank Guarantee: ₹10 Lakhs Financial Bank Guarantee: ₹1 Lakh Category C (SSA): Entry Fee: ₹20 Thousand Performance Bank Guarantee: ₹50 Thousand Financial Bank Guarantee: ₹10 Thousand Note: An additional, non-refundable application processing fee is also required. Fees are subject to change as per government rules