Telecommunications (Terms and Conditions for Migration) Rules, 2026
Comprehensive Overview
Old Licensing Regime vs Authorisation
| Aspect |
Old Regime
Unified License (VNO) Regime
|
New Regime
Authorisation Rules, 2026 (under Telecommunication Act 2023)
|
|---|---|---|
| Legal Basis | Based on Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 | Based on Telecommunication Act 2023 |
| Model | Agreement for License (UL/UL-VNO) |
Authorisation regime for provision of:
|
| 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 (Terms and Conditions for Migration) Rules, 2026 |
Migration Application Process
- migration of all licenses, the scope and the service area or network area of which are being covered in their entirety within the scope and service area or network area of the terms and conditions of the authorisation in respect of which the letter of intent is being issued
- submission of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking to pay to the Central Government any amounts that may be determined to be pending dues for the period prior to the approval for migration
- payment of the difference in amount between the sum total of the entry fees paid in respect of licenses to be migrated, and the entry fee specified for the relevant authorisation under the authorisation rules, and submission of a guarantee for an amount equivalent to the difference in amount between the sum total of bank guarantees submitted in respect of licenses to be migrated and the bank guarantee specified for the relevant authorisation under the authorisation rules, where applicable
- submission of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking in such form and manner as specified on the portal, relinquishing the overlapping authorisation, if any, from the effective date of migration under sub-rule (2) of rule 5
Pending Dues Requirement
- Submission of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking to pay to the Central Government any amounts that may be determined to be pending dues for the period prior to the approval for migration.
Validity & Obligations
The migration pursuant to the approval under sub-rule (2) of rule 5 and any relinquishment under rule 6, shall not affect the following:
- Roll out obligations, and any other relevant obligations or liabilities including financial dues, determinations of violations and imposition of penalty thereof, if any, associated with such licenses or overlapping authorisation, shall remain applicable under the terms and conditions thereof, even after the migration or relinquishment, as the case may be.
- The resource provided and permission given by the Central Government with respect to the licenses migrated under sub-rule (2) of rule 5 or overlapping authorisation relinquished under rule 6, shall continue to apply in accordance with the terms on which it was obtained, unless the Central Government determines otherwise in public interest.
- The telecommunication identifiers already allocated; or
- Spectrum held by the relevant entity; or
- Certificate of compliance held by the relevant entity in respect of the license or overlapping authorisation, as the case may be.
- Coverage test certificates as a part of compliance of roll-out obligations
- Clearances, approvals, permissions for deployment for foreign nationals granted to the relevant entity
- Other permissions including for remote access and gateways permissions