India Opens Up and Tightens Up: What's New in Wireless Certification July 2026

India is one of the most sought-after markets for wireless and electronic products — and one of the most complex to enter. The past year brought significant change on two fronts at once: how products get certified, and what spectrum they can use.

On certification, the Telecommunications Act 2023 reshaped the legal framework, and the new Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025 now underpin the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) program run by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC). MTCTE has been rolling out in phases, and Phase VI added another 14 equipment categories that became mandatory on August 24, 2025. After that date, uncertified equipment in those categories cannot be legally sold or deployed in India.

It's worth remembering that India runs a multi-agency system. Wireless products generally need Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing to operate in unlicensed bands, on top of any MTCTE/TEC certification, and many electronics also require BIS registration. One piece of good news: a WPC ETA has no expiry date once granted. Foreign manufacturers do need to appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to hold the approvals.

On spectrum, India is catching up with the global move to newer Wi-Fi. In February 2026 the Department of Telecommunications made the lower 6 GHz band license-exempt for certain Wi-Fi (RLAN) systems, and in May 2026 TEC opened a public consultation on the essential requirements for equipment in the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands — so more change is on the way.

The through-line for manufacturers is simple: plan early. India's overlapping WPC, TEC, and BIS requirements reward coordination, and the rules are actively shifting, so the compliance picture at the start of a project may not be the one at the finish.

CSIA helps manufacturers navigate India's multi-agency approval process, including Authorized Indian Representative service, across more than 150 countries worldwide. To map out your India approvals, contact CSIA at 503-489-8006 or quotes@csiassoc.com for a free quote.