Businesses today rely heavily on voice automation—Auto-Dials, Hosted IVRs, Click-to-Call, and Robo Calls—to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency. But did you know that providing these services commercially in India requires a license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)?

📜 The DoT Audiotex Licensing Notification: A Quick Overview

On 31st December 2021, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, issued a formal notification introducing a new authorisation chapter in the Unified License Guidelines titled:

“Audio Conferencing / Audiotex / Voice Mail Services”

The guidelines clarify that while internal use of IVR or voice services within an organisation doesn’t require a license, any entity providing these services commercially to third parties must hold a valid Audiotex license.

🚨 What This Means:

If you’re offering outbound auto-dialers, click-to-call, hosted IVR, or robo-calling platforms as a service to clients, you need to be licensed.
Licensing is required regardless of whether you’re registered as a telemarketer.

📖 Source: DoT Notification (PDF)

🔍 What Is Audiotex According to DoT?

Per the notification and TEC Specification 61054:2021, Audiotex is defined as:

“An interactive or non-interactive, non-real-time telecom service allowing users to retrieve or receive information via audio, using a standardized access method to communicate with a database.”

📌 Example Services Under Audiotex:

Outbound Audio Play (Robo Calls)
Hosted IVR Systems
Automated Notifications via Voice
Click-to-Call Systems

Section 2.5 of the TEC standard explicitly classifies Outbound Audio Play—your typical auto-dialer system—as part of this regulated category.

📖 Source: TEC Audiotex Standard 61054:2021

✅ How to Stay Compliant

If you’re an enterprise or SaaS provider enabling clients with telecom-based outbound communication tools:

🔒 You must ensure:

Your service is hosted on infrastructure that complies with DoT norms.
Your company, or the provider you’re working with, holds an Audiotex license.
You are not bypassing any telecom traffic rules, which can attract heavy penalties.

💡 Note:

According to DoT, failure to comply can result in penalties up to ₹20 lakhs per violation for unauthorized Audiotex service provisioning.

🛡️ Phonon.io Is a DoT-Compliant Audiotex Licensee

At Phonon, we take compliance seriously. Our hosted IVR, click-to-call, and outbound dialer systems are built to align with DoT’s Audiotex regulations.

With over 18 years of experience in telecom automation, we power secure, licensed, and scalable voice infrastructure for BFSI, Travel, Aviation, and Government sectors.

🚀 Looking to automate your customer communications—legally and efficiently?

👉 Contact Us to get started.

TL;DR – Key Takeaways

✅ Hosted IVR, Auto-Dialers, and Click-to-Call fall under Audiotex Services
✅ Commercial providers must be licensed by DoT
✅ Refer to TEC 61054:2021 for technical specifications
✅ Avoid legal penalties—choose a licensed provider like Phonon.io

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I offer auto-dialer services without a license if I’m a registered telemarketer?
A: No. Being a telemarketer does not substitute the requirement of an Audiotex license for commercial services.

Q: Is this applicable even if I host the services on cloud infrastructure?
A: Yes. The regulation applies regardless of hosting method as long as it uses telecom circuits.

Q: Where can I find the licensing documents?
A: DoT Notification , TEC Standard 61054:2021