For information on FCC, CE Mark or International Approvals
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International Regulatory Telecom and Safety Approval
Is country specific certification required or is CE/FCC approval sufficient?
- Country specific certification required
What is the lead time to obtain type approval?
- 3-4 weeks
Are there any marking or logo requirements?
- No marking requirements.
Is in country testing required or can we leverage existing FCC or CE test reports?
- We can leverage your CE Mark test reports as part of the application process. Contact CSIA for more details.
What are the types of equipment that would require approval in this country?
- Most products using telecom technology such as WIFI, Bluetooth, cellular and satellite.
Do I need an in country local representative or local certificate holder?
- A local representative is required.
India Updates
March 2024
The India Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) published a notification on April 1, 2024, announcing an extension of the date for mandatory certification for 10 products under MTCTE Phase III and Phase IV by four months, from April 1, 2024, to August 1, 2024. The last day to accept ILAC accredited lab test reports from non-border sharing countries has been extended by four months from March 31, 2024, to July 31, 2024 for certain products.
October 2023
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has released two notifications amending the national import policies that will change the Equipment Type Approval (ETA) procedures applicable to a wide range of computing products under management of the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC) of the Ministry of Communications.
June 2023
The Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) of the Ministry of Communications has released a notification amending the rules on the labelling of telecommunication products subject to the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) program.
June 2023
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Ministry of Communications has released a new regulation establishing a range of technical features that shall be implemented by smart and feature phones manufacturers and operating systems developers in several stages.
May 2023
The Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Ministry of Communications has released an Office Memorandum approving test requirements exemptions applicable to some of the product categories requiring mandatory testing and certification.
March 2023
India’s TEC recently announced that July 1, 2023, communication security will come into force with two product lines, Wi-Fi CPE & IP Router. The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) are complete and available on the MTCTE portal. Products already certified or whose applications are in process as of July 1, 2023 will also be covered under the ITSAR mandate for an integrated MTCTE certificate.
February 2023
(MTCTE) on Sept. 22, 2021. Phase-III and Phase-IV of MTCTE cover a vast scope of products and will be mandated with effect from July 1, 2022.
MTCTE applies to all types of telecom/information communication technology equipment to be sold in India for connecting — or with the ability to connect — to the Indian telecom/communication network.
Any original equipment manufacturer (OEM), importers and dealers who sell or import any notified telecom equipment in the country must obtain a TEC certificate and put a TEC label on the equipment before placing the product on the market. These are some examples of products covered under Phase-III and Phase-IV of MTCTE:
Phase-III Products Phase-IV Products
Base station for cellular network Transmission terminal equipment (DWDM, DXC)
Repeater for cellular network Optical fiber (single mode)
Compact cellular network Satellite communication equipment
Smart camera Radio broadcast receiver
Smartwatch Mobile radio trunking System
Smart electricity meter HF radio
Tracking device (with embedded SIMs) VHF/UHF radio system equipment
IoT gateway PTP PMP microwave fixed radio systems
Endpoint device for environmental monitoring IP security equipment
Equipment operating in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands Router
For the full list of products covered under Phase-III and Phase-IV of MTCTE, please contact CSIA.
How you can achieve conformity
The TEC requires in-scope products to undergo mandatory testing in a TEC-designated testing laboratory or with recognized Conformance Assessment Bodies (CAB) of Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) partner countries. The applicant must submit application documents along with test reports from a TEC-designated testing laboratory through the MTCTE portal. These serve as the TEC-defined Essential Requirements (ERs) that will determine compliance:
EMI/EMC
Safety — product safety and SAR
Technical requirements like RF testing
Other requirements like IPv4 and IPv6
Security requirements (National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) is working on the same requirements)
MTCTE registration is model-based. Manufacturers and vendors should obtain certification only once for a model. Associated/family models can earn certification without testing (maximum 10 models).
MTCTE certificates are valid for five years. Manufacturers and vendors can renew the certificate for five more years with the same certificate number (per applicability).
Manufacturers and vendors must obtain TEC certification prior to importing their products in India. The TEC requires manufacturers to affix a TEC certification label on the product after obtaining TEC certification.
January 2023
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of India has published the National Frequency Allocation Plan – 2022 (NFAP 2022), which is updated to be in line with ITU’s Radio Regulations 2020. The NFAP 2022 contains updates such as:
Frequency bands 867-868 MHz, 9 KHz to 30 MHz, and 433-434 MHz in the license-exempt frequency ranges to support short range communications such as IoT and M2M communications.17 GHz of new spectrum to implement IMT/5G in radio spectrum below 1 GHz, between 1-6 GHz, and above 6 GHz.
September 2022
The Central Marks Department III of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published Guidelines for the implementation of Revised IS 16333 (Part 3): 2022 on October 10, 2022. Existing licensees compliant with the previous standard IS 16333 (Part 3): 2017 will need to switch over to IS 16333 (Part 3): 2022 by December 17, 2022 to avoid cancellation of the license or deletion of the model from the scope of the license to be initiated.
Also he Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) reminded applicants that the Plug and Socket standard IS 1293:2005 will be officially withdrawn on October 23, 2022. The old standard will be replaced with new standard IS 1293:2019. As of October 23, 2022, host products must comply with IS 1293:2019 prior to importing.
July 2022
The Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) has issued a notification to extend the validity period of Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) certificates up to 10 years.
June 2022
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced an amended Circular regarding changes for document requirements within LVD Conformity Assessment which includes test reports and documents submitted by an applicant for obtaining a license/inclusion. The Circular concerns products that should be licensed through registration under the Scheme-II of the Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulation 2018.
April 2022
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Department of Telecommunications (DOT) of India clarified additional aspects of the MTCTE Scheme.
TEC issued a notification requiring the submission of Energy Consumption Rating (ECR) test reports for all Essential Requirements (ERs) starting January 1, 2023. The parameter name and standard to be tested will be added to the ERs for OEM and lab preparation.
DOT issued an Office Memorandum regarding importing of wireless equipment for testing under the MTCTE Scheme. Authorized Indian Representatives (AIRs) of foreign manufacturers will be allowed to obtain import licenses for wireless equipment that will be tested and certified under the MTCTE Scheme. Importation will be limited to a maximum of 5 units per each specific make and model under this import license, based on the Dealer’s Possession License (DPL) held by them.
Additionally, TEC clarified the following:
- Smart Watches ER covers Smart Watches both with and without Cellular connectivity
- Smart Cameras ER covers all types of Smart Cameras
- Equipment operating in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ER covers Wi-Fi Access Points, Wi-Fi Gateways and Base Stations, WLAN Controllers, and Wi-Fi PTP/PTM Devices
- IoT Gateway ER covers IoT devices as well as new technology such as Gateways, Base Stations and Sensors
- LAN Switch ER has added 200 G and 400 G optical interface test parameters for all variants.
February 2022
The Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Ministry of Communication & Information Technology of India issued a Notification about the updated rules on the Use of Low Power Equipment in the Frequency Band 865-868 MHz for Short Range Devices (Exemption from License). Some products operating in that frequency range will be exempt from the requirement to have a license. Contact CSIA for more information on this change.
January 2022
The Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC) has issued a new rule for low power equipment operating in the 868 MHz band. This rule extends the technical requirements for different technologies and supersedes the previous one dated 2005.
November 2021
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of India has extended the deadline for complying with labeling requirements for products under MTCTE Phase III and IV to December 31, 2022.
September 2021
MTCTE Procedure (ver 2.1/Release May 2021) supersedes procedure no. TEC/MP/DD/TCP-711/02.Oct18
The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017, provides that every telecom equipment must undergo mandatory testing and certification prior to sale, import of use in India. The final detailed procedure for Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipments (MTCTE) under these rules has been notified separately. The testing is to be carried out for conformance to Essential Requirements for the equipment, by Indian Accredited Labs designated by TEC and based upon their test reports, certificate shall be issued by TEC.
February 2020
India recently announced that in conjunction with the changes to the Phase 5 BIS Mandatory Scope changes, a total of seven categories were added to this scope which, as described below in our October update, will require mandatory approval to enter the India market place.
October 2020
India – MEITY Announces Phase 5 Products under BIS Mandatory Scope
On October 1, 2020, the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) released its Phase V Addition of product categories to the Schedule of the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order. Effective April 1, 2021, the following product types are subject to mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) safety approval in India:
Wireless Microphones
Digital Cameras
Video Cameras
Webcam (Finished Products)
Smart Speakers (with and without Display)
Dimmers for LED products
Bluetooth Speakers
March 2019
WPC Wireless Planning and Coordination agency has released a new type approval proposal that will change what products would require approval. Among the proposals is changing Low Power Devices from a type approval process to an importer controlled process.
Contact CSIA for more details.
August 2018
The regulatory agency in India, Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) , has updated their list of products that require type approval to now include RFID products that operate on 865-867 MHz. Previously these products were exempt from Equipment Type Approval in India.
March 2018
India’s Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) has published a revised draft of their “Procedure for Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecommunication Equipment” (MT&CTE) proposing the date for mandatory testing will be changed to April 1, 2018 instead of the previously stated date of October 1, 2018. Currently, it is not possible to test and certify for TEC, however TEC is in the process of appointing local Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). Many details remain pending with regards to implementation and full scope of the scheme.
As regulations change from time to time in many countries you should contact CSIA for up to date information.
CSIA can also provide supporting services should your company not be able to meet country specific requirements such as a local representative, local certificate holder, translating documents into the native language, etc. Contact CSIA at (503) 489 8006 or quotes@csiassoc.com for all your FCC certification, CE certification, Industry Canada and International Approval needs.