The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), on June 23, 2026, notified the Telecommunications (Terms and Conditions for Migration) Rules, 2026, establishing a framework for migration of existing telecom licences, registrations, and permissions to the authorisation regime introduced under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the rules, eligible licensees may apply through a designated portal for migration to the relevant authorisation category, subject to compliance with eligibility conditions, prescribed timelines, payment of processing fees, and fulfillment of migration conditions. The framework provides for issuance of a letter of intent, migration of existing licences, surrender of overlapping authorisations, payment of differential entry fees and bank guarantees where applicable, and submission of undertakings regarding pending dues and relinquishment of overlapping authorisations. Applications for licences with a fixed validity period must generally be submitted at least twelve months before expiry, subject to specified transitional provisions.
The rules further clarify that migration will not affect pre-existing rights, obligations, financial liabilities, roll-out commitments, penalties, spectrum holdings, telecommunication identifiers, certificates, approvals, or other permissions associated with the original licence. The Central Government has also been empowered to issue directions, guidelines, and implement the migration process digitally through notified portals to facilitate the transition to the new authorisation framework.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 510(E)]
