M2M Service Provider Registration and Authorisation
If your business connects machines, meters, trackers or wearables over SIMs or networks and sells that as a service, the Department of Telecommunications expects you to be on its books. Since 23 June 2026 new entrants apply for an M2M service authorisation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, while existing Saral Sanchar registrations continue on their terms. We prepare the application, file it on the DoT portal and keep you compliant after approval.
What it is
M2M means machine-to-machine: devices that talk to each other or to a backend platform without a person in between. Think vehicle trackers, smart electricity meters, connected health monitors, smart-city sensors and wearables. An M2M service provider (M2M SP) is the business that offers such connected services using telecom resources taken from licensed operators.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) first brought M2M SPs and WPAN/WLAN connectivity providers under a registration on the Saral Sanchar portal, with onboarding starting in March 2022. DoT gave the purpose as KYC, traceability and encryption for the telecom resources these businesses take from licensed operators.
The law has now moved on. The Telecommunications (Authorisation for Provision of Miscellaneous Telecommunication Services) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 512(E), 23 June 2026) create an “M2M service authorisation” under Section 3(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, for the national service area.
Take a Faridabad firm that fits GPS trackers in school buses and sells parents a live-location app. It buys SIMs in bulk from an operator and runs the platform itself. That is M2M service, and it needs to be on DoT’s books.
Who it applies to
IoT and telematics businesses
Fleet management, vehicle tracking, smart metering, asset tracking, connected healthcare and smart-city solutions that use bulk SIMs or network connectivity from operators.
Firms that are not companies
Unlike most telecom authorisations, which need a company, M2M authorisation is open to LLPs, partnership firms, sole proprietorships, trusts, co-operative societies and government bodies as well.
Businesses already registered
Entities already registered as M2M SPs or WPAN/WLAN connectivity providers. Your registration carries on. You decide when to migrate.
Why it matters
Your SIMs stay connected
DoT has warned that non-compliance may lead to withdrawal or disconnection of telecom resources obtained from licensed operators. For an IoT business, that means devices in the field go dark.
Operators can onboard you
Telecom operators need to know the KYC and security status of the business taking bulk connectivity. A registration or authorisation number answers that question.
You are recognised by the government
DoT has said registration gives recognition as a registered entity with the Government of India, which it sees as support for businesses expanding abroad.
Old registration vs new authorisation
| Point | Saral Sanchar registration (2022 guidelines) | M2M service authorisation (2026 rules) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal base | DoT guidelines under the Indian Telegraph Act regime | Section 3(1), Telecommunications Act, 2023 and G.S.R. 512(E) |
| Who can hold it | Companies, government bodies, firms, LLPs, institutions, proprietorships, societies, trusts | Companies, LLPs, partnership firms, proprietorships, trusts, co-operative societies, government bodies |
| Area | All India | National service area |
| Validity | As stated in the registration | Up to 20 years, renewal applied for at least 12 months before expiry |
| Status now | Continues under Section 3(6), or migrate | The route for all new applicants |
Documents required
About the entity
- Incorporation certificate, LLP or firm deed, or trust/society registration
- PAN and GSTIN
- Details of directors, partners or proprietor, and any foreign shareholding
- Board resolution or authority letter for the signatory
About the service
- Description of the M2M service and use case
- Location of your IT set-up and core platform
- Telecom operators from whom you take SIMs or connectivity
For filing
- Valid digital signature certificate of the authorised signatory
- Contact details for the nodal officer
- Processing fee payment
How it works
Check whether your activity is M2M service
We look at what you sell, who holds the SIMs and where the data goes. Here is the catch: a hardware seller and a service provider can ship the same device, yet only one of them needs the authorisation.
Prepare the entity and documents
No entity yet? We form one. Then we draft the signatory authority, collect the entity papers and write a clear service description, because a vague one draws queries.
Apply on the DoT portal
Applications under the 2026 rules are made online on DoT’s Telecom eServices portal, with the non-refundable processing fee set in Schedule A of the rules.
Track the grant, then diarise the conditions
We follow up on queries, receive the authorisation and set a calendar for renewal and the conditions you must meet, such as KYC and using only trusted products.
Timelines
23 June 2026
The miscellaneous services authorisation rules (G.S.R. 512(E)) were notified and came into force on publication. New M2M applications follow these rules from that date.
Up to 20 years
Maximum validity of an M2M service authorisation. Apply for renewal at least 12 months before it expires.
Existing registrations
Under Section 3(6) they continue for their stated validity. If no fixed validity was given, they continue for five years from the appointed day, or you can migrate earlier.
What happens if you are not registered
Connectivity can be pulled
DoT’s advisory said non-compliance may lead to withdrawal or disconnection of telecom resources obtained from authorised licensees. In practice, that is a Gurugram smart-meter business whose meters stop reporting overnight.
You are providing an unauthorised service
Section 3(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 requires an authorisation to provide telecommunication services. Operating without one invites action under the Act.
Fixing it later costs more
Getting authorised after devices are already in the field means paperwork done under pressure, with live customers depending on the outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is M2M service provider registration still available?
New applicants now apply for an M2M service authorisation instead. The Telecommunications (Authorisation for Provision of Miscellaneous Telecommunication Services) Rules, 2026 were notified on 23 June 2026 and replace the old Saral Sanchar registration route for new entrants. If you already hold a registration, it continues under Section 3(6) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. One call with us settles which route is yours.
Can an LLP or proprietorship get M2M authorisation?
Yes. The 2026 rules allow an M2M service authorisation to be held not just by companies but also by LLPs, partnership firms, sole proprietorships, trusts, co-operative societies and government bodies. Most other telecom authorisations need a company. So a small IoT business can apply in its present form, and convert to a company later only if its own growth plans call for it.
How long is an M2M service authorisation valid?
An M2M service authorisation is granted for up to 20 years. You must apply for renewal at least 12 months before it expires. It covers the national service area, so one authorisation works for devices across India. We diarise the renewal date on the day of grant, so it is not forgotten.
What happens to my existing M2M SP registration?
It continues. Under Section 3(6) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, a registration with a definite validity continues on its terms for that period, and one without a fixed validity continues for five years from the appointed day. In either case you may choose to migrate to the new authorisation terms. Nothing stops overnight, and we can time the migration to suit you.
Is there a government fee?
Yes, a non-refundable processing fee set in Schedule A of the 2026 rules is paid with the application. Published summaries of the rules show no entry fee and no annual authorisation fee for M2M service. We confirm the exact processing fee on the portal when we quote, and our professional fee is agreed in writing before we start, so you know the total before filing.
I only sell GPS trackers. Do I need this?
It depends on whether you provide the connected service or only sell hardware. If you take SIMs from an operator and run the tracking platform for customers, you are offering M2M service and need the authorisation. If the buyer gets the SIM and the platform from someone else, you may not. We look at your contracts and data flow before advising, so you do not apply for something you do not need.
What were WPAN/WLAN connectivity providers?
They are businesses that provide short-range connectivity for M2M devices, using technologies such as Bluetooth, Zigbee or Wi-Fi within a personal or local area. DoT’s 2022 guidelines asked them to register on Saral Sanchar alongside M2M SPs. Existing registrations continue under Section 3(6). If you are in this category, we review your set-up against the 2026 rules before deciding the next step.
Do I have to buy only trusted telecom products?
Yes, new authorised entities under the 2026 rules must follow the designated authority’s conditions and use only trusted products in their networks. This links your M2M business to the trusted source framework run through the Trusted Telecom Portal. Before you buy network gear for your own platform, check that it carries the trusted designation.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
What we do, and what we do not
We handle the application, documents, portal filing, liaison with DoT and ongoing compliance. If you are starting out, we can also set up an LLP or company and get your Startup India recognition in the same run.
We do not test devices or design networks. Equipment testing and technical reports come from accredited labs and consultants, and the authorisation is granted only by DoT.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what your devices do and whose SIMs they use, and we will tell you whether you need M2M authorisation and how to get it.