India requiring security certification of networking technology products

The Indian telecom authority TEC did on 2 October issue a  MTCTE Notification on “Security certification for IP Router and Wi-Fi CPE products”.
Such devices are used for networking purposes, while serving different functions and having different features. Routers are designed to forward data packets between computer networks, while CPEs are designed to connect a customer’s location to a service provider's network. Although routers may be used as part of a CPE setup, they are not specifically designed for this purpose.

After the MTCTE released its first notification last year about including such products, the mandatory dates have been extended two times, initially to 1 April this year. Then on 16 April 2024, the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) released a special Notification in which the devices were divided into two categories, denoted S No.1 and S No. 2. The mandatory dates for the MTCTE & NCCS joint portal to accept Security Certification applications were for S No. 1 set to 1 July this year, and for S No.2 set to 1 October.

Now in TECs’ latest Notification the application date was further extended to 31 October for category S No.2, i.e." IP Router and Wi-Fi CPE equipment already been certified under MTCTE ER and have already been deployed in the licensee's (TSP) network and proposed for change in hardware or software".

The application is a paperwork process with a self-declaration of conformance to the applicable Indian Telecommunication Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR). The Declaration format is provided along with the Notification.
Upon receiving the application, a so called "Pro Tem Certificate" shall be issued with a validity of 6 months in order to facilitate continuous supply of those products till they are certified.

 According to TEC, there will be no further extension of time to apply and get equipment certified.

For further information, please contact Vanessa.Wen@nemko.com. 

For project and submission requirements details, please contact Adityar.Meshram@nemko.com.

(The article is based on the information provided by Vanessa Wen and edited by T.Sollie)