Simplification of Indian Telecom Certification Scheme: What You Need to Know

                                                                                                                                                                                       

In India, the scheme for mandatory testing and certification of telecom equipment (MTCTE) covers basically 46 types of telecom products which are subject to certification by the telecom authority TEC, based on testing by labs designated by TEC, such as Nemko India.

There are two certification schemes, i.e. the General Certification Scheme (GCS) and the Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS).
TEC has earlier announced that from 1 January 2023, some product types are shifted from the GCS to the SCS, including cordless phones, routers and equipment operating in the 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz bands.

These product types still require full testing to the relevant standards. Test reports must still be submitted onto the MTCTE portal but certification under SCS takes much less time than under GCS. And, since no evaluation of test reports is involved, only administrative fees apply.

However, on 19 December TEC issued a modification notice on the SCS procedure in clause 6.2 of the governing regulation TEC 93009:21. The modified clause then reads:

6.2 Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS)

6.2.1 This scheme is applicable for all equipment's notified under SCS category from time to time

6.2.2 Under this scheme, applicant has to submit a test wise compliance sheet, along with a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) and test reports, in respect of parameters included in ERs (Essential Requirements).

6.2.3 All other rules/procedures applicable in case of GCS shall apply in case of SCS, except that test reports submitted by applicant will not be evaluated by TEC. However, TEC reserves the right to seek clarifications from the applicant, if any.

6.2.4 The certificate will normally be issued within fifteen working days from the date of submission of application."

Note: SCS old procedure did not require submitting of Test Reports but now it is implemented by TEC.

The notification is available here. 

For further information please contact Vanessa.Wen@nemko.com or india@nemko.com

(Article is partly based on text provided by Venessa Wen and Compliance International article, edited by T.Sollie)