Telecommunications (Migration) Rules, 2026

Important Information:

To apply for Authorisation, you must migrate all existing licenses/authorisations to the Authorisation regime through new portal.
Acceptance of migration of existing licensees is subject to payment of pending dues as per clause 6 "Payment of all pending dues" of Telecommunications (Migration) Rules, 2026.

Comprehensive Overview

1. Old Licensing Regime vs Authorisation

Aspect	Unified License/Unified License (VNO) Regime	Authorisation Rules, 2026 (under Telecommunication Act 2023)
Legal Basis	Based on Indian Telegraph Act, 1885	Based on Telecommunication Act 2023, Authorisation regime for provision of 1. Principal Telecommunication Services 2. Miscellaneous Telecommunication Services 3. Captive Telecommunication Services 4. Establishing, operate, maintain or expand Telecommunication Network
Model	Agreement for License (UL/UL-VNO)	Authorisation regime for provision of 1. Principal Telecommunication Services 2. Miscellaneous Telecommunication Services 3. Captive Telecommunication Services 4. Establishing, operate, maintain or expand Telecommunication Network
Instrument Type	License (agreement-based)	Authorisation (rule-based statutory system)
Tenure	20 years for UL/UL-VNO	20 Years
Migration	As per UL/UL-VNO Guidelines	As per Telecommunications (Migration) Rules, 2026.

2. From old to Authorisation

Existing License	Migration Allowed To
Access Service under Unified License or UASL for 11 or more telecom circles or metro areas	Unified Service (National Area)
Access Service (Service Area Wise)	Unified Service (National Area)
Access Service (Service Area Wise)	Access Service (service Area wise)
Access Service Category B license	Wireline Access Service
Internet Service Category- A (With All India jurisdiction)	Unified Service (National Area)
Internet Service Category- A (With All India jurisdiction)	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
Internet Service Category- B (With jurisdiction in Service Area)	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)
Internet Service Category- C (With jurisdiction in a Secondary Switching Area)	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)
Machine to Machine Category-A (With All India jurisdiction)	Unified Service (National Area)
Machine to Machine Category-A (With All India jurisdiction)	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
Machine to Machine Category-B (With Service Area jurisdiction)	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)
Machine to Machine Category-C (With jurisdiction Secondary switching area/district)	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)
Very Small Aperture terminal (VSAT) CUG Services	Unified Service (National Area)
Very Small Aperture terminal (VSAT) CUG Services	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
National Long Distance (NLD) Service	Unified Service
National Long Distance (NLD) Service	Long Distance Service
International Long Distance (ILD) Services	Unified Service
International Long Distance (ILD) Services	Long Distance Service
Resale of IPLC Service	Unified Service
Resale of IPLC Service	Long Distance Service
Public Mobile Radio Trunking Service (PMRTS)	Public Mobile Radio Trunking Service (PMRTS)
Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) Services	Unified Service (National Area)
	Internet Service Authorisation (National Area)
Audio Conferencing/ Audiotex/ Voice Mail Service	Unified Service
Audio Conferencing/ Audiotex/ Voice Mail Service	Enterprise Communication Service

3. Migration Application Process

Migration Application Process:
1. Existing licensees must apply minimum 12 months before expiry.
2. Application must include details of all licenses and beneficial interest holders.
3. Non-refundable processing fee: ₹10,000.
4. If holding multiple licenses, all must be migrated together.
Migration Approval & Financial Terms:
1. CG issues demand letter equal to the difference in entry fee (higher–lower).
2. No refund if earlier entry fee > applicable fee.
3. One-time extension up to 30 days may be allowed.
4. Upon payment → Unique Authorisation number issued via portal.
Pending Dues Requirement:
1. All pending dues must be paid before approval.
2. Licensee must submit an undertaking to pay future dues & interest.
Validity & Obligations:
1. Authorisation validity as per new rules.
2. Rollout obligations, penalties & liabilities from old license continue.
Treatment of Spectrum:
1. Auctioned spectrum continues with existing validity & terms.
2. Administrative spectrum valid for 5 years from appointed day.

Related Documents & Resources

Telecommunications (Migration) Rules, 2026 Documents

Telecommunication Act, 2023

Act • Published: December 2023

Telecommunication Rules, 2026

Rules • Published: January 2026

Migration Rules

Rules • Published: December 2026

Migration Mapping Table

Existing License	Migration Allowed To	Old (Entry Fees in Cr)		New ( Entry Fees in Cr )		Old (Processing Fees in Cr)		New ( processing Fees in Cr)		Old (Performance Bank Guarantee Fee in Cr)		New (Initial Guarantee Fee in Cr)		Old (Financial Bank Guarantee Fee in Cr)		Old (Networth in Cr)		New Minimum Equity in Cr )		New (Minimum Networth in Cr)
Existing License	Migration Allowed To	UL	UL-VNO	NSO	VNO	UL	UL-VNO	NSO	VNO	UL	UL-VNO	NSO	VNO	UL	UL-VNO	UL	UL-VNO	NSO	VNO	NSO	VNO
Access Service under Unified License or UASL for 11 or more telecom circles or metro areas,	Unified Service( National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1/0.010	0.1/0.010	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
Access Service ( Service Area Wise)	Unified Service (National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Access Service (service Area wise)	1 ( 0.5 for NE & J&K)	0.5(0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.5 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.125 ( 0.0625 Lakhn for NE & J&K)	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	2	NIL	2	0.2	0.4	0.2	2.5	1	2.5	1	2.5	1
Access Service Category B license	Wireline Access Service		0.165/0.0165		0.005 (0.0025 for NE & J&K)		0.001		0.001		NIL		0.001		0.002		0.05		0.01		NIL
Internet Service Category- A ( With All India jurisdiction)	Unified Service (National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1/0.010	0.1/0.010	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Internet Service Category- B ( With jurisdiction in Servicve Area)	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)	0.02	0.001/0.01	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.0002	0.0001	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Internet Servicve Category- C ( With jurisdiction in a Secondary Switching Area)	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)	0.002	0.001	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.0002	0.0001	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Machine to Machine Category-A(With All India jurisdiction)	Unified Service (National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Machine to Machine Category-B(With Service Area jurisdiction)	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)	0.02	0.001	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.0002	0.0001	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Machine to Machine Category-C(With jurisdiction Secondary switching area/district)	Internet Service Authorisation (Telecom circle/ Metro Area)	0.002	0.001	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.005 ( 0.25 for NE & J&K)	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.0002	0.0001	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Very Small Aperture terminal (VSAT) CUG Services	Unified Service (National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
National Long Distnace (NLD) Service	Unified Service	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Long Distance Service	2.5	2.5/1.25	1	0.25					0.5				1	0.5
International Long Distance (ILD)Services	Unified Service	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Long Distance Service	2.5	1.25	1	0.25					0.5				1	0.5
Resale of IPLC Service	Unified Service	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Long Distance Service	2.5	0.5	1	0.25					0.002					0.1
Public Mobile Radio Trunking Service (PMRTS)	Public Mobile Radio Trunking Service (PMRTS)	0	0.0025							0.5					0.001
Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite ( GMPS) Services	Unified Service (National Area)	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10
	Internet Service Authorisation ( National Area)	0.3	0.15	0.1	0.1	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.4	NIL	0.04	0.01	0.02	0.01	0	0	0.1	0.1	NIL	NIL
Audio Conferencing/ Audiotex/ Voice Mail Service	Unified Service	15	7.5	12	3	0.1	0.1	0.01	0.01	44	NIL	44	4.4	8.8	4.4	25	10	25	10	25	10

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Telecommunications (Migration) Rules, 2026

Important Information:

1. Old Licensing Regime vs Authorisation

Related Documents & Resources

Categories of Authorisation