India cannot be underestimated in the telecommunications sector. It ranks second only to the United States as the world’s largest telecommunications market. This is due to the adoption of 5G and a massive user base for data.
Therefore, the opportunities for manufacturers, importers, or distributors to market their products in this country are huge. A crucial factor to consider in this regard is RF certification in India. Having this certification ensures that your telecommunications products are safe and comply with applicable regulations.
Applying for RF certification in India is not that simple. The country is known for having the most complex certification process in Asia. India has two main certifications: WPC ETA and TEC MTCTE. You need to understand the complete guidelines for both to make it easier to market telecommunications products in this country.
What is RF Certification in India?
There are several types of certification in India. There are five types of certification based on specific requirements. A different authority issues each certification.
Here are several types of certification in India:
- Equipment Type Approval (ETA), issued by the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC)
- Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- Certification of Telecom Equipment, issued by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre and Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (TEC MTCTE)
- BEE certification, issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products are subject to two types of certification: WPC ETA and TEC MTCTE.
WPC ETA
WPC ETA stands for Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) and Equipment Type Approval (ETA). It is part of the Department of Telecommunications under the Indian Ministry of Communications.
This authority is responsible for certifying all products that operate in unlicensed frequency bands. This includes devices that use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, Zigbee, and other short-range wireless technologies.
TEC MTCTE
TEC MTCTE stands for Telecommunication Engineering Centre and Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment. TEC is an authority under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of India.
This authority will be responsible for certifying all telecommunications products that connect directly to telecommunications networks. This includes smartphones, routers, switches, base stations, and other network equipment.
Who Can Apply for Certification?
After understanding the types of RF certification in India and the various product types, the next thing to understand is who can apply. In India, local companies play a crucial role as certification applicants.
Foreign manufacturers seeking WPC and/or TEC certification must partner with a local company in India. They can appoint a local manufacturer, a local brand owner, or an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).
The partnership between a foreign manufacturer and a local Indian company must be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). It’s important to note that the local company must be registered on the relevant portal.
For WPC certification, applicants must be registered with Saral Sanchar. For TEC certification, applicants must be registered on the MTCTE portal.
India Certification Process
RF certification in India for WPC and TEC has a different process. In short, WPC certification can only be processed through the paperwork method. TEC certification, on the other hand, requires local testing.
WPC certification process
Using the paperwork or document evaluation method requires test results from an overseas laboratory. India requires international laboratories to meet Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) standards, in accordance with CE or FCC standards.
In addition to test results, there are several documents you must complete for the document evaluation process. Required documents include:
- Business license
- ISO 9001 certificate
- RF test reports
- Trademark certificate
- Technical specification
- User manual
- GST or company registration of the Indian company
- KYC of the authorized signatory
- Authorization letter from the manufacturer
Once all the documents have been collected, submit them through the Saral Sanchar portal. WPC will evaluate all the documents you have uploaded.
A WPC ETA certificate will be issued if you pass the evaluation. If not, you will need to provide any missing or incorrect documents so that WPC can re-evaluate them.
TEC Certification Process
In the local testing process, the TEC certification process requires samples. Generally, three to five samples must be sent to a local laboratory in India. The number of samples required will depend on the product specifications and the type of testing needed.
In addition to samples, local testing also requires certain documents to be submitted. Required documents include:
- Test SOPs and software
- AIR company registration
- MOU between AIR and the manufacturer
- User manual
- Specification sheet
- Product photos
- Label artwork
- Bill of materials
Once all the documents have been collected, submit them through the MTCTE portal. TEC will evaluate all the documents you have uploaded.
The TEC MTCTE certificate will be issued if you pass the evaluation. If not, you will need to provide any missing or incorrect documents so that TEC can re-evaluate your application.
Lead Time and Certificate Validity
The lead time for RF certification in India differs for WPC and ETA. With the document evaluation method, WPC has a shorter lead time compared to TEC, which involves local testing.
WPC certification typically takes about one to two weeks. Meanwhile, TEC certification takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the sample readiness and the completeness of the documentation.
The validity of the WPC and ETA certificates also differs. As long as there are no changes to the RF device or revocation by the authorities, WPC certification is valid for life. On the other hand, TEC certification is valid for ten years from the date of issuance.
Label Requirements
Label requirements for RF certification in India also differ between WPC and TEC. WPC certification does not require any labels on the product or packaging. On the other hand, TEC certification requires labels on all certified products.
The TEC label consists of three components: the TEC logo, the words “MTCTE,” and the certificate number. The label can be applied as a physical or electronic label. The e-label must be displayed on the device’s screen.