What is DOT License? How to Get DOT License/Registration?

In India, the term "DOT License" most commonly refers to the Other Service Provider (OSP) Registration issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).¹

Here is a breakdown of what the OSP license is and the step-by-step process to get registered.

1. What is the DOT OSP License?

The DOT OSP Registration (Other Service Provider Registration) is a mandatory license required for companies that use the telecom infrastructure (like telephone lines, internet, etc.) to provide IT-Enabled Services (ITES).²

Who Needs This License?

The license is mandatory for businesses operating as OSPs under the New Telecom Policy (NTP) 1999, which includes:

Service Category	Examples of Business
Call Centres / BPO / KPO	Domestic and International Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and call centres.
IT-Enabled Services	Tele-banking, Tele-medicine, Tele-education, E-commerce customer support, Network Operation Centres, and certain types of Tele-trading.

Key Features

• Regulating Authority: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India.³

  
  

• Validity: Generally, the registration is valid for 20 years (subject to annual compliance filing).⁴

  
  

• Mandatory Entity: The applicant must be a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (Private Limited, Public Limited, etc.). LLPs, Partnership Firms, and Proprietorships are generally not eligible.⁵

  
  

• Types:

  • Domestic OSP: For calls made only within India.⁶

    
    

  • International OSP (or OSP-I): For calls made only outside India.⁷

    
    

  • Domestic and International (Combined): Allows both domestic and international calls from the same centre (requires specific infrastructure and usually a Bank Guarantee).⁸

    
    

2. How to Get Registered (Step-by-Step)

The OSP Registration process is entirely online and is done through the Saral Sanchar portal (or the DoT OSP website).⁹

Phase 1: Preparation (Eligibility & Documents)

1. Form a Company: Ensure your business is registered as a Private Limited Company or other entity under the Companies Act, 2013.¹⁰

   
   

2. Gather Documents: Collect and prepare the following documents, ensuring they are digitally signed by an Authorized Signatory:

   • Certificate of Incorporation (COI).¹¹

     
     

   • Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA).¹²

     
     

   • Board Resolution or Power of Attorney authorizing the signatory to apply for the license.¹³

     
     

   • List of Directors and Shareholders with their KYC documents (ID & Address Proofs).¹⁴

     
     

   • Network Diagram showing the proposed call/data setup and how you will connect to an authorized Telecom Service Provider (TSP).¹⁵

     
     

   • Detailed Business Plan or Note on the nature of OSP activities.¹⁶

     
     

Phase 2: Online Application

Step 1: Access the Portal

• Visit the DoT's designated portal for online registration (often referred to as the Saral Sanchar portal).¹⁷

  
  

• Complete the one-time registration process to create your user account.¹⁸

  
  

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

• Log in and navigate to the application for the DOT OSP Registration (Form-I).¹⁹

  
  

• Fill in the required details, including:

  • Company details (CIN, PAN, Name, Address).

  • Details of the Proposed OSP Centre (Location, Number of seats).

  • Type of OSP Registration required (Domestic, International, or Combined).²⁰

    
    

Step 3: Upload Documents

• Upload all the prepared and digitally signed documents (COI, MOA/AOA, Board Resolution, Network Diagram, etc.) in the prescribed format.²¹

  
  

Step 4: Pay the Fee

• Pay the nominal government processing fee (e.g., ₹1,000) online, often through the Bharat Kosh portal.²²

  
  

Step 5: Submission

• Submit the completed application form and payment receipt.²³ An application ID will be generated.

  
  

Phase 3: Verification and Issuance

1. DoT Review: The Department of Telecommunications officials (usually the TERM Cell) will review the application and documents.²⁴

   
   

2. Query Handling: If there are any discrepancies or clarifications needed, the DoT will raise a query, and you must respond promptly on the portal with the corrected/additional information.²⁵

   
   

3. Approval: Upon successful verification and approval, the DoT will grant the OSP Registration Certificate.²⁶

   
   

Mandatory Annual Compliance

To keep the OSP Registration valid, you must file an Annual Status Return (in the prescribed format) by 31st August of every year, detailing the activities undertaken in the previous financial year.²⁷ Failure to file this return for three consecutive years can lead to the cancellation of the license.²⁸

Would you like to know more about the specific security and compliance requirements for operating an OSP center?