The short answer: three. Category A, B, and C. The more useful answer is what actually separates them, since the difference isn't complexity -- it's geographic scope, and getting the right one from the start saves an upgrade application later.
The three categories
- Category A -- nationwide coverage. The highest entry fee and bank guarantee of the three, built for operators planning a genuinely national rollout from the outset.
- Category B -- coverage across a single telecom circle or state. A middle tier for regional operators.
- Category C -- coverage limited to a district or local area. The fastest and most affordable tier to get operational in, and the most common starting point for new operators.
It's not a ladder you have to climb in order
A common misconception is that every operator starts at Category C and works up. That's not required -- if your funding and rollout plan genuinely support a Category A or B launch from day one, there's no regulatory reason to start smaller. The category should match your realistic 18-24 month footprint, not an assumption about how licensing "normally" works.
Moving between categories later
If your business outgrows its original category, upgrading (C to B, or B to A) is a defined process: you need to meet the higher category's net worth threshold and pay the differential entry fee. It typically takes 45-90 days. This is a normal, expected part of scaling -- not a sign the original category choice was wrong.
A quick way to decide
Map out where you'll realistically be operating in 18-24 months, check that figure against your funding position, and choose the category that matches -- not the one that sounds most ambitious. For a fuller comparison including validity periods and typical use cases for each tier, see our detailed Category B vs Category C comparison, or the full ISP License page for all three.
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