3. Prior to ISP guidelines dated 24-08-07 :

1. Three categories of ISP Licences without internet telephony, based upon service area of operation as given below were issued in accordance with ISP policy announced in November 1998.

Category ‘A’:   All India ISP Licence

Category ‘B’:   20 territorial Telecom Circles, four Metro Districts- Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta or Chennai and four major Telephone Districts- Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad or Pune.

Category ‘C’:   Licence in any Secondary Switching Areas (SSA) of DOT with geographical boundaries as on 1.4.98 (Revenue district in most cases)

2. A company registered under Company Act 1956 and having maximum foreign equity of 74% (even 100% foreign equity permitted for licences without Internet Gateway) could apply for ISP Licence. The applicant company was required to pay processing fee of Rs 6000/- only, however, there was no entry fee for grant of ISP licence.  No licence fee was levied on the ISPs till 31st October, 2003. A token licence fee of Re.1/- per annum is payable w.e.f. 1st November, 2003.
3. Internet Telephony (restricted) was permitted to ISPs in April 2002 and the applicant company was required to pay Rs. 10,000/- as processing fee alongwith the application for obtaining ISP Licence with Internet Telephony. From 1st January 2006 an additional Licence fee of 6% of AGR (Gross revenue other than pure internet services and roaming revenue actually passed on to other Telecom Service Providers etc.), as defined in amendment dated 03.03.2006, is being charged.

2.