OSP Stands for “Other Service Provider”. OSP is a license provided by Department of Telecommunication (DOT) to Other Service Provider. It is a license which is mandatorily requirement for service provider who is providing Information Technology (IT) Enabled Services.

The Services which are being provided with the help of information technology and does not required or required least human intervention is required. Generally these services are advanced version of traditional methodology used for conducting any work. Following services are IT enabled services which requires Other Service Provider License (OSP):

• Call Centre (In Bound and Out Bound)
• Business Process Outsourcing Services (BPO)
• Knowledge Process Outsourcing Services (KPO)
• Tele-Marketing
• Tele-Medicine
• Tele-Banking
• Tele-Education
• Vehicle Tracking Services
• E-Commerce Operator
• Network Operation Centre
• Other Service of Similar Nature

As per telecom policy 1999, Every “Other Service Provider” will be allowed to operate by using infrastructure provided by various access providers (telecom service provider). The ultimate purpose to obtain OSP license is to control the usages of resource being obtained from telecom service provider. Through OSP license government monitor the data obtained by other services provider with the help of telecom operator.

Who is required to obtain OSP Licence:

All the IT enabled services mentioned above is mandatorily required to obtain OSP license from Department of Telecommunication.

What is the process of obtaining OSP License:

OSP license obtaining process is completely online. Application can be filed by submitting digitally signed documents.

What all documents are required for OSP License:

• Certificate of Incorporation (COI) or LLP Agreement in case of LLP
• Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA)
• Board of Resolution or Power of Attorney authorizing the authorized signatory
• Name of Business and Activities to be carried out
• List of Directors or partners
• Present Shareholding or Profit sharing ration among partners

What is Government fee for obtaining OSP:

As per telecom policy, government has prescribed fee of INR 1000 for each application.

What is the validity of OSP License:

Government has prescribed 20 years validity of OSP license. However Annual return is required to be submitted by licensee for each financial year.

Can an individual person apply for OSP License:

As per telecom policy, only company whether private or public and limited liability partnership (LLP) are eligible to obtain OSP license hence an individual can not apply for OSP license.

Can we use single OSP license for more than one branch:

OSP licence is location based license, for different locations (branches) separate license will be required. Therefore for each branch you need separate license.

Can one OSP license will be use for both Domestic and International business/call centre:

No, One OSP license cannot be use for both businesses. You need to apply separate licence for Domestic and International call centre. Further if you are running both the call centre at same location then you also needs another license which is Infrastructure sharing license as you will be using same recourse for both the call centre.

Whether separate license is required for inbound and outbound services.

No, Single license is sufficient for both inbound and outbound services.

What is post obtaining of OSP License compliance:

Every other service provider who have OSP license is liable to file OSP Annual Return within 6 month from end of financial year. Those OSPs who do not submit the annual return for consecutive three years will be put in the dormant list and their registration will be cancelled after keeping them for two years in the dormant list.

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