Overview of Uplinking/Downlinking License
Uplinking is a communication channel for transmitting messages in electronic form to a satellite. Downlinking, on the other hand, refers to the communication channel used to receive electronic messages from satellites.
If you are a broadcaster, you need to get authorization to uplink and downlink satellite television channels. Government of India understands this need. Therefore, realizing the rapidly evolving broadcasting technology, current market changes and operational developments paving the way for the growth of the broadcasting sector, our Government has brought the Uplinking and Downlinking Policy Guidelines, 2011.
According to those guidelines, all stakeholders related to this industry can come forward and register to uplink and downlink television channels (primarily news channels) on the Broadcast Services website.
Eligibility criteria for Uplinking/Downlinking license in India
There are three aspects of uplinking and downlinking that you should keep in mind before applying for registration.
- Setting up a teleporter hub – Teleports or teleport hubs are units that broadcasters use to beam their TV channels to satellite.
- Applications for Uplinking – Uplinking is a communication medium for sending a message to a satellite.
- Application for Downlinking – Downlinking is a communication channel for receiving messages from satellite. Thus, considering all the above three factors, you have to file three applications to register for uplinking and downlinking.
- Business Registration – The applicant should be a registered business entity in India.
In order to apply for uplinking downlinking permission to the authority the permission applicant must comply with the following criteria:
The net worth requirements of that company are as follow
- For First Teleport: INR 3 Crores
- For each additional teleport: INR 1 Crore
- For first non-news and current affairs TV channels: Rs.5 crores
- For each additional non-news and current affairs TV channel: Rs.2.5 crore
- For First News and Current Affairs TV Channel: Rs.20 Crores
- For each additional news and current affairs TV channel: INE 5 crores
- Foreign direct investment in a company or LLP should be in accordance with the FDI policy of the Government of India.
Eligibility applicable to Uplinking
- The applicant should disclose the application to all the shareholders
- The applicant must disclose the name of any foreigner employed by it
- The applicant company’s operational independence and resource control should be competent. It should also possess the financial strength to run a current affairs news channel.
- The main head of the company should be a resident Indian.
Eligibility applicable to Downlinking
- The applicant has to provide the details of the directors of the company.
- The applicant has to furnish the details thoroughly.
- The applicant shouldn’t have been priorly disqualified from filing the application
- The downlinked channel should have a prior license from the appropriate broadcast or licensing Authority in the transmission country.
Documents required to obtain an Uplinking/Downlinking license
Every Uplinking Downlinking permission aspirant must attach the following documents to further their application for a successful assessment by the Authority:
- Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant company
- Memorandum of Association of the applicant company
- Articles of Association of the applicant company
- List of directors of the applicant company
- List of shareholders of the applicant company
- Board Resolution to apply for Uplinking/Downlinking registration
- Audited Balance Sheet of the applicant company
- Employee details of a Non-resident Indian Employee
- Complete Details of the employed equipment
- If there is a foreign direct investment, provide the FDI details as per the FDI policy
- A document showing the complete technical details of the equipment(s) that are being used (specifically for downlinking and distribution)
- Block Schematic Diagram for downlinking
- Records for the past 90 days
- and other
FAQs About Uplinking/Downlinking license?
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