Broadband India Forum (BIF) has appreciated the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for issuing the Guidelines on ‘Registration process of M2M Service Providers (M2MSP) and WPAN/WLAN Connectivity Providers for M2M Services’. These forward looking guidelines based on ‘light touch’ regulations, shall go a long way in proliferation of machine-to-machine (M2M) services in the country, thereby leading to a plethora of citizen centric services across different verticals viz. utilities, housing and urban amenities, financial/retail services, smart cities, safety and surveillance, besides various segments like agriculture, healthcare, automotive, supply chain and fleet management, etc.. The resultant explosion in internet of things (IoT) based services would further nurture the digital ecosystem in the country, cementing India’s position in the global digital arena.

Commenting on the development, T.V. Ramachandran, president, BIF, said, “This is a historic step towards liberalisation of the nascent M2M sector in the country. Everything in future will be connected and every aspect of our life – be it social, economic or domestic, will be impacted by connected machines. With the advent of 5G on the anvil and the explosive growth expected in the M2M/IoT sector, these guidelines could not have come at a more appropriate time. This will also encourage startups to develop myriad innovative applications and solutions for the benefit of the citizens. We compliment DoT on this progressive policy measure and look forward to its expeditious and productive implementation.”

These guidelines will propel innovations and enable applications and solutions that will deliver benefits to the Indian citizens in several crucial areas. Smart utilities like grids, gas, garbage disposal and metering; public and women safety system; smart city components such as street lighting, waste management, parking, water management and connected charging stations; portable consumer electronics and wearable devices; financial services such as POS, ATMs and smart kiosks; intelligent transport system; are some of the areas slated to gain from this.

The guidelines have incorporated the principles of ease of doing business (EoDB) to facilitate their smooth adoption. Some key features include:

  • Simple ‘light touch’ registration at a token/nominal cost of Rs. 5000/-
  • Registration to be made available through a simple online process within 15 days
  • Registration being applicable irrespective of whether access technology deployed is cellular (based on licensed spectrum) or WPAN/WLAN (based on unlicensed spectrum)
  • International roaming based on e-SIM permitted without any undue restrictions
  • Licensed TSP/ISPs/VNOs need not acquire any separate license or authorisation for offering M2M services, providing a level playing field with the existing providers.