TEC Certificate Registration

1. Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE)

The MTCTE scheme was established by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India. The objective of this scheme is to maintain the safety and quality standards of the telecom equipment and ensure that they operate at a radio frequency that does not interfere with the existing frequencies. Manufacturing and selling of telecom equipment that conforms to the regulations of this scheme ensures the safety of the end-users and promotes innovative technologies of the telecom infrastructure. The MTCTE scheme ensures that the telecom equipment meets the Essential Requirements (ERs) as prescribed by TEC. To maintain the standards of the telecom equipment, the telecom equipment goes through rigorous testing and evaluation by the TEC authorities. 

2. Types of Voluntary Certification Schemes Under TEC

According to the specifications of the product and technical requirements, TEC has several voluntary certification schemes. The notified telecom products are certified under this scheme based on the testing requirements as established by the TEC. 

Given below are the different categories of Voluntary Certification Schemes covered in TEC :

• Type Approval 
  Type Approval is a type of voluntary scheme under which the testing and certification of telecom products are done per the Test Schedule & Test Procedure (TSTP) under TEC in conformity with the Generic Requirements (GRs). The testing under this scheme is done in a laboratory or at the premises of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
• Interface Approval
  It is a type of Voluntary certification scheme in which the testing and certification of the telecom equipment is carried out as per the Test Schedule & Test Procedure (TSTP) under TEC in conformity with the Interface requirements (IRs). The testing is done at the OEM’s premises or in a certified lab environment. In some cases, the Interface Approval is considered a compulsory certification by the service providers or Government organisations.
• Certificate of Approval 
  The process of testing and certification as per the manufacturer’s requirements and specifications comes under this voluntary certification scheme. Under this scheme, the testing is done in the absence of a Generic or Interface Requirement of the telecom product. Following the Test Schedule & Test Procedure (TSTP) under TEC, the testing is done in an OEM’s location or a lab.
• Technology Approval 
  It is a process of testing and certification of a prototype of a telecom product, which is created by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) or other R&D entities. Technology Approval is granted by the TEC in accordance with the standard of the product, which was previously issued as the Generic Requirements (GRs). The testing under this approval is conducted either at the facility of an OEM or in an accredited lab. 

3. Validity and Renewal

Validity of TEC Approval Certificate

The validity of TEC Certification is ten years, starting from the date of issuance in the case of both Foreign OEMs and domestic manufacturers, until the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or the AIR (Agreement for Import of Restricted Items) letter, whichever occurs first.

Renewal of TEC Certificate Online

1. Submit your renewal application online and the renewal fee at least 1 month before the current certificate's expiration date.
2. The certificate can be renewed if there are no alterations in the Essential Requirements (ERs) applicable to the equipment and there have been no changes to the equipment model.
3. Upon approval, a new certificate, valid for five years, will be issued with the previous certificate number referenced.
4. TEC reserves the right to request re-testing or re-evaluation of certified telecom equipment and levy the appropriate fee, if necessary, to verify the equipment's compliance with the ERs.

4. Groups and Schemes in TEC

Groups in TEC

There are 3 groups established by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) according to the duration of testing and evaluation of test reports. These groups are known as Group A, Group B, and Group C. These groups are created as per the testing requirements and duration to manage them effectively. To streamline the procedure of testing and test report evaluation, these groups are given a specific timeline. 

Schemes in TEC Registration Services

Two certification schemes are established under the TEC for the telecom equipment to meet certain requirements. They are explained below:

• General Certification Scheme (GCS)
  Under the GCS, applicants are mandated to submit test reports conforming to the standards and meeting Essential Requirements (ERs) under the TEC scheme. These test reports must be verified by a Conformance Assessment Body (CAB). The types of equipment that fall under Group A, Group B, and Group C are put under the GCS to enable a comprehensive assessment that complies with the regulations.
• Simplified Certification Scheme
  Under the Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS), applicants must submit a compliance sheet along with a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) indicating specifics of Essential Requirements (ERs). Telecom equipment under Group A falls under this scheme. Unlike GCS, test reports from CAB are not a mandatory requirement under SCS. 

For further information, kindly refer to the Group Chart:  ( View / Download ) 

5. Prior Requisition for TEC Approval Certificate

Prior requisition is a crucial step in the TEC Certification process, ensuring that the necessary individuals are authorised to carry out TEC-related responsibilities. Depending on the origin and structure of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), the process differs as follows:

TEC Certificate for Indian OEMs

In the case of Indian OEMs or brand owners, any executive representing the company needs to be designated as an Authorised Signatory. This authorisation is granted through an Authorisation Letter issued by the company, which allows the executive to take on TEC-related responsibilities.

TEC Certificate for export to India for foreign OEMs

Foreign manufacturers operating in India must nominate an Indian business organisation to act as their Authorised Indian Representative and Signatory (AIR). The AIR is responsible for managing TEC-related tasks on behalf of the foreign OEM. This representative should be an executive of the Indian organisation. Following this leads to easy compliance management and availability of a TEC approval certificate for export to India, for businesses dealing across the globe, aiming to enter the Indian market. 

Note: 
If foreign OEMs do not have an existing arrangement for an AIR, a Brand Liaison can become their Authorised Indian Representative.

6. Placing the TEC Certificate Logo

Here are the key labelling requirements for TEC certification in India:

• The TEC logo should be prominently placed on the body of the telecommunications equipment.
• Besides being physically labelled on the equipment, there should also be an indication in the technical document of the equipment that it conforms to the specified ERs.
• For mobile handsets and tablets, a certification e-label will be applicable.
• The size of the TEC logo can be adjusted, either reduced or enlarged, while maintaining the aspect ratio.

Note: 
TEC has exempted product labelling for the initial 6 months, providing manufacturers with a grace period to ensure compliance with the labelling requirements of TEC certification.

To know more, kindly refer to the TEC Labelling Guidelines: ( View / Download )

7. Modification for TEC Registration Certificate

A certificate for certified telecommunications equipment may need to be changed in specific situations. Retesting may or may not be necessary, depending on the type of change and whether it impacts the equipment's compliance. The following is a breakdown of the two types of certificate modification:

Without Re-Testing:

Any modification of certified equipment, which does not present compliance issues with an approved Essential Requirement, will be accepted without retest, provided that the equipment is still in satisfactory working condition. 

The following are some of the changes to consider:

1. An alteration in size, shape, colour, or enclosing of the equipment that numbered or named the equipment a different model or name.
2. Model number changes that do not impact the hardware design.
3. Changes in the ownership, corporate structure, or address of the company holding the certificate for the equipment.
4. Inclusion of the name of a new Associated Model not originally mentioned on the existing certificate, but covered by the Bill of Materials (BoM) already submitted.

With Re-Testing:

Any other modifications to the certified equipment that affect its compliance with approved Special Requirements will require the issuance of a new certificate. 

Here are some examples (not limited to those listed below) of such changes:

1. Addition of a new network interface card.
2. Alterations to the existing network interface card.
3. Inclusion of a new Associated Model not initially referenced on the existing certificate or covered by the BoM of the certified model.
4. Incorporation of a new chassis, interface module, or unit in the family of already certified equipment.
5. The modified equipment may only be sold or used after TEC issues a new certificate.

Software changes, whether major revisions, minor revisions, patches, bug fixes, or updates, do not inherently necessitate a certificate modification unless they result in non-compliance with Essential Requirements to which the equipment had previously adhered. The OEM is responsible for determining this and applying for certificate modification if required.

8. NC and Contraventions 

Non-compliance (NC) and contraventions of the TEC registration certificate requirements set by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) are taken seriously, and the following actions are implemented:

• If TEC identifies uncertified equipment, equipment with unauthorised modifications, or equipment whose certification is about to expire, being sold, used, or intended for sale, such equipment will be required to go through the necessary certification process within 180 days from the date of the violation notification.
• The fees charged will be ten times more than what is prescribed before granting the certification. 

Note:  
If the TEC registration certificate is not obtained for such equipment within the specified time frame, TEC reserves the right to seize and dispose of all such equipment.

If any licensed entity is using uncertified equipment or not taking any action against the use of uncertified equipment:

• A notice of violation will be issued by the authorities to stop the use of uncertified equipment with immediate effect.
• Actions will be taken as per the license conditions.
• However, mandatory certification will be allowed for a period of 180 days from the date of issue of the notice of violation, and ten times the prescribed fees will be charged before granting the certificate. 

Note: 
Unlawful use of certification shall be a criminal offence for which the penal provisions of the Indian Penal Code will apply. 

9. NCCS Security Certification

NCCS stands for the National Centre for Communication Security, which is a Centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This centre is responsible for implementing the Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec). The scheme ensures mandatory testing and certification of the telecom equipment before it is sold in the Indian market. The testing and certification ensure that the telecom equipment meets the essential requirements (ERs) as implemented by the TEC. The testing of the telecom equipment ensures that the product conforms to the national and international quality & safety requirements. Once these products meet the testing requirements, the TEC Certification is issued for these products. 

The National Centre for Communication Security ensures the implementation of the ComSec scheme in the following ways:

• Ensuring that the Telecom equipment meets safety and security requirements.
• Establishing a framework of testing and certification.
• Formulation of operational processes, standard protocols, and technical specifications.
• Maintaining conformity with the regulatory norms and testing requirements set by the authorities. 

To get further assistance, please contact Brand Liaison.