What is IP-1 registration?

IP-1 (Infrastructure Provider Category I) is a registration given by the DoT to companies that build and lease passive assets like towers and fiber to telecom operators.

How is it different from an ISP license?

An ISP provides internet 'service' to users. An IP-1 provider only provides the physical 'assets' (like towers) to the ISP. IP-1 cannot provide internet service directly.

Do I need to pay a percentage of revenue (AGR) for IP-1?

No. IP-1 registration is currently outside the AGR-based license fee regime, meaning you do not have to pay a percentage of your revenue to the DoT.

Is there an entry fee for IP-1?

There is a nominal registration fee (usually ₹5,000), but there is no large 'entry fee' or 'bank guarantee' like in ISP or mobile licenses.

Can I lease my fiber to multiple ISPs?

Yes, that is the core purpose of IP-1. You can build a fiber network and lease individual 'dark' strands to multiple different ISPs simultaneously.

Can an individual or partnership get IP-1?

No. The DoT requires the applicant to be a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.

What is 'Dark Fiber'?

Dark fiber refers to optical fiber cables that have been laid but are not yet being used. IP-1 companies lease this unlit fiber to telecom operators who then add their own active equipment to light it.

What is 'Passive Infrastructure'?

Passive infrastructure refers to the physical components that don't involve the actual transmission of signals, such as towers, poles, ducts, and the power/cooling systems in a server room.

Service

DOT-IP1 Registration Online

Register as an Infrastructure Provider Category-I (IP-1) with DoT India. Mandatory for companies building towers, fiber assets, and ducting to lease to telcos...

Building the Foundation of Connectivity

Register as an Infrastructure Provider Category-I (IP-1) with DoT India. Mandatory for companies building towers, fiber assets, and ducting to lease to telcos...

Build and lease telecom infrastructure. Get your IP-I registration from DoT to legally provide towers, dark fiber, and duct space to licensed telecom operators.

The legal status for companies building the physical foundation of India's telecom. Register as an IP-I to provide passive infrastructure assets to licensed service providers.

Infrastructure Provider Category-I (IP-1) registration is a specific authorization granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to companies that intend to establish and maintain passive telecom infrastructure. This includes assets like towers, masts, dark fiber, duct space, and buildings. IP-1 holders do not provide telecom services to end-users directly; instead, they lease or rent their assets to licensed telecom service providers (like ISPs, mobile operators, or NLD carriers).

The IP-1 model is the backbone of 'Infrastructure Sharing' in India. By using IP-1 providers, telecom companies can expand their network coverage without the massive capital expenditure of building their own towers and laying fiber everywhere. For the IP-1 company, it represents a stable, long-term rental business model with significantly lower regulatory hurdles and no revenue-sharing (AGR) obligations.

QuickTaxperts helps you secure your IP-1 registration. We guide you through the Saral Sanchar portal, ensure your company's legal structure is compliant, and handle the background verification process required by the DoT.

Category: Telecom & Tech
Perfect for Tower companies and Fiber-laying contractors.
Allows for legally leasing infrastructure to multiple operators (Multi-tenancy).
No recurring license fee based on revenue (Zero AGR).
Prerequisite for obtaining 'Right of Way' (RoW) permissions from local bodies.
Authorization to lease Towers, Dark Fiber, and Duct Space
No entry fee and no performance bank guarantee (PBG)
Essential for Infrastructure Sharing and Tower companies
Requires only registration (not a full license) with DoT

Scope of IP-I Registration

What assets can you build and lease?

Telecom Towers: Ground-based and rooftop towers/masts for mounting antennas and base stations.
Dark Fiber: Optical fiber cables that are laid but not yet 'lit' with active equipment, leased to ISPs/carriers.
Duct Space: Underground conduits and pipes for laying telecom cables, shared with multiple providers.
Passive Equipment: Battery backups, air conditioning for server rooms, and physical housing for telecom gear.

Eligibility and applicability

We check applicability before filing so the selected registration, licence, or compliance route matches your facts.

Must be an Indian Company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
MOA must have objects related to providing infrastructure services or telecom assets.
FDI up to 100% is allowed under the automatic route.
Can be a Private Limited or Public Limited company.

Documents required

Document requirements vary by entity type, state, premises, and authority. These are the usual groups we verify before submission.

Mandatory Documents: Certificate of Incorporation and MOA & AOA.; PAN Card and Board Resolution of the Company.; Shareholding Pattern details.; Details of Directors and their KYC (PAN, Aadhaar).; Networth Certificate (though no minimum is specified, it’s good for credibility).; Address proof of the Registered Office.

Our IP-1 Registration Workflow

Getting your infrastructure ID in four steps.

Step 1: MOA Audit: Ensuring your company's objects specifically allow for the 'establishment and maintenance of passive infrastructure'.
Step 2: Saral Sanchar Filing: Registering on the DoT portal and filing the IP-I registration application with all business details.
Step 3: Security Review: Handling any clarifications from the DoT regarding director background or shareholding.
Step 4: Registration Issuance: Finalizing the registration and receiving the IP-I certificate for your business.

Deliverables

After completion, we share organized acknowledgements, references, and next-step guidance for banking, renewals, or future filings.

DOT IP-1 Registration Certificate
DoT Portal (Saral Sanchar) Access Credentials
Guidance for Right of Way (RoW) applications
Lease Agreement template for telecom assets

Expert review

DOT-IP1 Registration Online content is reviewed by QuickTaxperts Telecom Advisory, Telecom Infrastructure Specialists.

Checklist-led review
Document pre-verification
Authority-specific next steps

Frequently asked questions

These quick answers cover common planning questions before you request a checklist or quote.

What is IP-1 registration?: IP-1 (Infrastructure Provider Category I) is a registration given by the DoT to companies that build and lease passive assets like towers and fiber to telecom operators.
How is it different from an ISP license?: An ISP provides internet 'service' to users. An IP-1 provider only provides the physical 'assets' (like towers) to the ISP. IP-1 cannot provide internet service directly.
Do I need to pay a percentage of revenue (AGR) for IP-1?: No. IP-1 registration is currently outside the AGR-based license fee regime, meaning you do not have to pay a percentage of your revenue to the DoT.
Is there an entry fee for IP-1?: There is a nominal registration fee (usually ₹5,000), but there is no large 'entry fee' or 'bank guarantee' like in ISP or mobile licenses.
Can I lease my fiber to multiple ISPs?: Yes, that is the core purpose of IP-1. You can build a fiber network and lease individual 'dark' strands to multiple different ISPs simultaneously.
Can an individual or partnership get IP-1?: No. The DoT requires the applicant to be a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
What is 'Dark Fiber'?: Dark fiber refers to optical fiber cables that have been laid but are not yet being used. IP-1 companies lease this unlit fiber to telecom operators who then add their own active equipment to light it.
What is 'Passive Infrastructure'?: Passive infrastructure refers to the physical components that don't involve the actual transmission of signals, such as towers, poles, ducts, and the power/cooling systems in a server room.