What will be the registration process for Multiple Location Registration?
- The applicant is required to apply to a unit of Department of Telecom (Head Quater) having jurisdiction, where one site of OSP is proposed to be located.
- Once the registration certificate for the first location, is received, then it may apply to other respective designated authorities for remaining sites.
- However, this time to apply only the copy of OSP Registration obtained for the first site is required to be submitted along with the copy of the certificate of incorporation issued by the registrar of companies for the cases OSP has made the registration within one year and there is no change in the status of previously submitted documents.
- On completion of one year, a complete set of the documents shall be submitted.
- Any change in OSP registration must be intimated to the Authority.
Fees for registration:
As such, there is no money to be paid apart from the processing fee of Rs. 1000/- which is payable along with the application for OSP registration.
The amount is paid in the form of a demand draft from a scheduled bank in favor of the concerned Accounts Officer of registering authority.
The validity of the certificate:
The registration certificate is valid for 20 years from the date of issue unless otherwise mentioned in the registration letter.
Extension to the validity period:
The validity of the registration may be extended, by 10 years at one time, when a request for extension is made during the 19th year of the registration period on the terms mutually agreed. The Authority has full discretion power and its decision shall be final in regard to the grant of extension.
The requirement to furnish information:
- The OSP on demand by the authority shall furnish the information and documents such as details of the accounts, estimates, returns, reports or other information including system passwords in accordance with the rules/ orders as may be prescribed from time to time.
- The OSP is required to submit ‘Annual return’ to the registering authority in the prescribed Performa within six months of completion of the financial year. The Annual return must indicate the details of the activities of the previous financial year along with the status of the continued OSP operation.
- The operational OSPs are required to put in the Active OSP list.
The consequence of not filing the annual return:
After obtaining the OSP registration in case the OSPs in case of failing to submit the annual return for consecutive three years shall be put in the dormant list, followed by registration cancellation. The company is canceled after keeping them in the dormant category for two years. Such a list is made available on the DOT website.
Other regulatory requirement:
The TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) requirement for OSP:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published a set of draft recommendations with the intent of transparency and fair-play and, as a consequence the consumers. In the recommendations, the concept of OSP has been extended and certain conditions have been imposed on its registration.
Given below are the Conditions for OSP registration :
- A Company is eligible to apply for more than one registration, which is based on the location.
- No license fee is applicable for OSP registration, however a processing fee of Rs. 1000 to the Department of the telecom (DoT) is required to be paid.
- The registration so obtained is valid for 20 years, also it may be extended by 10 years at a time.
- The registration for the operation of Value Added Services is made on a non-exclusive basis
- They are required to use common short codes and consumer practices in line with the DoT guidelines.
- An OSPs is not allowed to employ bulk encryption equipment; as the encryption equipment will need the approval of the mobile operator. Note that the Encryption higher than 40 bits will need permission, and the decryption key will need to be given to the DoT.
- The OSP is required to obey the Privacy Binding on OSP to maintain the confidentiality of consumer data.
- Off-deck players are allowed to charge the only charge for content. They are not permitted to collect charges/ revenue for access/carriage charges related to telecom access services.
Revenue Sharing:
Now the question arises how the Revenue is shared for on deck and off deck OSP?
- In the case of the On Deck, the revenue share pertains to the as negotiated and decided between the operators and content providers/Value added service companies. Basically based on the mutual decision between the involved parties.
- In case of the Off Deck, the Telecom operators may be mandated to publish their access charges for value-added services provided under “Off Deck” model. It is recommended that the separation of content from carriage is to be done, as previously the carriage charges have been arbitrary, resulting in non-uniform fee.
