Complete Procedure for Network License Registration in India

What is a Network License?

A Network License is a license issued by the WPC wing, i.e., the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing of the Department of Telecommunications. It is a specialized license provided only to those businesses seeking to operate "networked" wireless products. One must remember this is not a manufacturing or importing license for wireless equipment. This is a license issued to businesses for using specialized wireless equipment.

Networked Products

In simple words, certain equipment in the Telecom space needs prior approval from the Government before their utilization. This approval is termed as the Network License. And the equipment are termed as networked products. The DoT allocates certain frequencies to such telecom products. Hence, the network licensee uses these products. 

Wireless Products covered under Network License

We have mentioned some of the networked products that the Network License business can operate only in the following points:

Paging

• Captive Radio Paging
• Wide Area Radio Paging

Trunking Services

• Captive Radio Trunking
• Public Mobile Radio Trunking Service(PMRTS)

Mobile Communications

• Captive VSAT
• CORDECT/CDMA
• Commercial VSAT
• GSM

Landline Communication

• Fixed/Land Mobile-HF/VHF/UHF-new
• Fixed/Land Mobile-HF/VHF/UHF-additional category

Terrestrial Broadcast

• Terrestrial Broadcast (FM/CRS/MW/SW/HPT/LPT/DTT-new
• Terrestrial Broadcast (FM/CRS/MW/SW/HPT/LPT/DTT-additional category

Captive Trunking

• Captive Trunking-new (below 806 MHz)
• Captive Trunking-additional category (below 806 MHz)
• Others (RADAR, BEACON, AIS, Any other)-Below 806 MHz

Medium Wave

• MW Broadcast
• MW link for Foreign Mission
• MW link for Cellular(GSM)
• MW link for WLL(CDMA)
• MW link for Point to Point Communication
• MW link for Point to Multipoint(for ISP, ILD, NLD)
• MW link for wide-area Radio Paging

Satellite Operating Telecoms

• Satellite Broadcast
• Satellite Network-Gateway for ISP, ILD, NLD
• Satellite Network-Receive only Earth Station
• Satellite News Gathering

Others Network Licenses 

• Radar
• Remote Controller
• SCADA
• Shot Range UHF Hand Held Radio (USR)
• Spread Spectrum
• TV Receive Only Dish Antenna(TVRO) for Foreign Mission
• HF/VHF for Foreign Mission
• Earth station for foreign mission
• Experimental
• Beacon

If you are interested in obtaining a Network License from WPC, then you must arrange a consultation with a reputed Telecom Consulting Agency. Network License is a remote service. Very little information is available from the WPC about this network service. Therefore, consulting an expert will be your best bet in arranging a license for your business. You can also consult them regarding the Non-Network license issued by the WPC if it meets your business requirement.

Who can apply for the Network License?

The DoT has authorized the provision of a license to only those entities registered as a company under the Companies Act of 2013. Therefore, the Department of Telecommunications does not issue Network licenses on an individual basis. 

How to apply for a Network License in India? 

Since it is a remote service, not much is available about the in-depth registration process of a business for the Network License. But we have somehow arranged the material for you so that you can get a jist of the registration process in the following points:

1. Firstly, fill out the license application by visiting the official website.
2. Secondly, furnish and upload the requisite document with the license application.
3. Afterwards, draft and file the application and upload it using one of your directors' Digital Signature Certificates (DSC).
4. Afterwards, post-submission, the application goes into the assessment period. The WPC examiner will assess your application and request more information or can also issue a summons for seeking clarification on the filed application.
5. Finally, after successfully assessing the application, the WPC wing of the DoT will issue the Network License.  

Requisite Documents with License Application

The Network applicant must submit the following documents along with the license application:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• ID proof of the applicant
• RF test report of the equipment
• Qualification of the applicant
• Specification of the product

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.