Every wireless product sold in India — from a Bluetooth earbud to an industrial RFID scanner — transmits on a radio frequency, and every radio frequency in India is governed by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications. Before a manufacturer or importer can legally place a wireless device on the Indian market, they must answer one fundamental question: does the device operate in a licensed band or a de-licensed band?

The answer determines everything that follows. Devices operating in de-licensed (licence-exempt) bands can be imported and sold with a WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) obtained through a fast, online self-declaration route. Devices operating outside these bands face a far more demanding regime involving import licences, frequency assignment, and case-by-case scrutiny. Getting this classification wrong at the design or procurement stage is one of the most expensive compliance mistakes a wireless product company can make — shipments held at customs, launch dates missed, and in the worst cases, redesigns of the RF front end itself.

This guide consolidates every de-licensing gazette notification issued by the WPC Wing into a single reference, explains the WPC ETA approval process step by step, and sets out the documents, timelines, and pitfalls that manufacturers and importers must plan for in 2026.

What Does “De-Licensed” Mean in Indian Spectrum Law?

Under the Indian Telegraph Act and the wireless regulatory framework administered by the DoT, the default legal position is that operating a wireless transmitter requires a licence. The WPC Wing, established in 1952, is the national radio regulatory authority responsible for frequency spectrum management, licensing, and ensuring that wireless devices do not cause harmful interference.

To enable mass-market wireless technologies — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, short-range remotes, medical implants — the Government of India has progressively exempted specific frequency bands from the licensing requirement through Gazette of India notifications (GSR notifications). A device operating within one of these de-licensed bands, and within the power limits and technical conditions specified in the relevant notification, may be used without an individual wireless operating licence.

De-licensed does not mean unregulated. Three conditions still apply:

• The device must operate strictly within the notified frequency range.
• It must comply with the maximum transmit power, field strength, duty cycle, and bandwidth conditions in the notification.
• The device model must hold a WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) before import and sale — now issued via self-declaration for de-licensed-band devices.

The consolidated list of licence-exempt bands is also reflected in Annexure-1 of the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP), the most recent release of which was published in 2025.

The Complete List of WPC De-Licensed Frequency Bands in India

The table below consolidates the gazette notifications regarding de-licensing bands issued by the WPC Wing, DoT. Each notification defines the band, the permitted application, and the technical conditions.

S.No	Frequency Band	Gazette Notification	Purpose / Applications
1	9–50 kHz	GSR 83 (E) dated 11.02.2014	Very low power radio frequency devices including Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID)
2	50–200 kHz	GSR 90 (E) dated 10.02.2009	Very low power radio frequency devices including RFID
3	302–351 kHz	GSR 697 (E) dated 16.09.2015	Very low power devices for inductive applications
4	302–435 kHz; 855–1050 kHz; 1.89–2.30 MHz	GSR 996 (E) dated 05.10.2018	Very low power devices for inductive applications
5	148.5–3155 kHz (and further inductive sub-bands up to 30 MHz)	GSR 870 (E) dated 21.12.2021	Very low power devices for inductive applications (field-strength limited, dBµA/m)
6	13.553–13.567 MHz	GSR 884 (E) dated 04.11.2010	Very low power devices for indoor applications (NFC, 13.56 MHz RFID)
7	26.957–27.283 MHz	GSR 35 (E) dated 10.01.2007 & GSR 533 (E) dated 12.08.2005	Low power citizen band (CB) equipment, including use in motion or during halts
8	36–38 MHz	GSR 696 (E) dated 16.09.2015	Very low power wireless microphones
9	335.7125–335.8375 MHz (six spot frequencies)	GSR 34 (E) dated 10.01.2007 & GSR 532 (E) dated 12.08.2005	Low power wireless equipment for remote control of cranes
10	402–405 MHz	GSR 673 (E) dated 23.09.2008	Medical Implant Communication Systems (MICS) and Medical Implant Telemetry Systems (MITS)
11	433–434 MHz	GSR 680 (E) dated 12.09.2012	Low power devices for indoor applications
12	433–434.79 MHz	GSR 698 (E) dated 16.09.2015	Very low power devices including RFID
13	865–867 MHz	GSR 564 (E) dated 30.07.2008	Low power RFID equipment (UHF RFID)
14	Multiple short-range device bands: 6.765–6.795 MHz; 30–37.5 MHz; 87.5–108 MHz; 169.4–169.8125 MHz; 401–402 MHz; 405–406 MHz; 446–446.2 MHz; 2400–2483.5 MHz; 2446–2454 MHz; 2483.5–2500 MHz; 5725–5875 MHz; 24.05–24.5 GHz; 61–61.5 GHz	GSR 1047 (E) dated 18.10.2018	Low power and very low power short range devices (SRDs): inductive devices, active medical implants, high duty cycle devices, assistive listening devices, PMR 446, radio determination, RFID, transport & traffic telematics, non-specific SRDs
15	2.4–2.4835 GHz	GSR 45 (E) dated 28.01.2005	Low power WLAN / Bluetooth / IEEE 802.11b equipment
16	5.150–5.250 GHz; 5.250–5.350 GHz; 5.470–5.725 GHz; 5.725–5.875 GHz	GSR 1048 (E) dated 18.10.2018	Low power wireless access points, fixed point-to-point access, mobile and portable client devices including RLAN, indoor and outdoor
17	76–77 GHz	GSR 699 (E) dated 16.09.2015	Very low power short range radar systems (automotive radar)
18	1.6–10.6 GHz and above 10.6 GHz (UWB)	GSR 1046 (E) dated 18.10.2018	Very low power ultra-wideband (UWB) devices: generic UWB, location tracking, road/rail vehicle UWB, material sensing, building material analysis
19	5925–6425 MHz (Lower 6 GHz)	GSR 316 (E)	Low power and very low power wireless access systems including RLAN in the Lower 6 GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E/7)

Each of these notifications carries detailed technical conditions — maximum e.r.p or e.i.r.p, field-strength limits for inductive bands, duty-cycle limits, channel spacing, and in several cases references to harmonised European standards (EN 300 220, EN 300 330, EN 300 440, EN 302 065 and others) that define the test methodology. Compliance is demonstrated through an RF test report assessed against these parameters.

Why the De-Licensed Classification Matters Commercially

The commercial consequences of the licensed/de-licensed distinction are substantial.

Market access speed. A device in a de-licensed band qualifies for ETA through self-declaration on the Saral Sanchar portal — a process that can be completed in days once the RF test report is in hand. A device outside these bands requires conventional WPC approval and, where applicable, an import licence, which can take months and may simply not be granted for frequencies allocated to other services.

Customs clearance. Indian customs authorities check wireless consignments against WPC requirements. An ETA certificate (or self-declaration ETA) presented with an import undertaking allows clearance of de-licensed-band devices. Without it, consignments are detained, demurrage accumulates, and importers face the choice of re-export or destruction.

Design freedom. Global product teams often assume that a device certified for FCC (US) or CE (EU) bands can ship worldwide. India’s band plan differs in important details — the UHF RFID band is 865–867 MHz (not the US 902–928 MHz), PMR walkie-talkies must sit in 446–446.2 MHz within power limits, and the 5 GHz sub-bands carry their own conditions. Devices must be firmware-locked to India-legal channels and power levels.

Enforcement risk. Selling or operating wireless equipment outside the de-licensed framework without a licence is an offence under the Indian Telegraph Act and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, exposing companies to seizure and prosecution — in addition to marketplace delisting, since major e-commerce platforms now demand ETA evidence for wireless listings.

WPC ETA: The Approval That Unlocks De-Licensed Bands

Equipment Type Approval is the WPC Wing’s confirmation that a specific device model complies with the technical conditions of the applicable de-licensing notification. Since February 2022, ETA for devices that (a) are exempt from import licensing under the DGFT import policy and (b) operate solely in de-licensed bands is issued through a self-declaration (ETA-SD) route on the Saral Sanchar portal (saralsanchar.gov.in).

Step-by-Step: ETA Through Self-Declaration

1. Confirm band eligibility. Map every radio in the device — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, sub-GHz, UWB, radar — against the notified de-licensed bands and their technical conditions. A single non-conforming radio takes the whole device out of the self-declaration route.
2. Obtain RF test reports. Have the device (or its RF modules) tested by an accredited laboratory against the applicable parameters — frequency range, maximum output power/field strength, and where applicable duty cycle and channel spacing. Reports referencing the relevant EN standards are widely accepted.
3. Register on Saral Sanchar. Create an applicant account on the DoT’s Saral Sanchar portal. Foreign manufacturers apply through an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) or importer with an Indian address.
4. File the ETA-SD application. Enter device details, RF specifications, frequency bands, output power, and upload the test reports and technical literature.
5. Pay the government fee. The prescribed fee (₹10,000 per application/model covering one or more RF modules) is paid online through the portal.
6. Download the ETA certificate. For eligible de-licensed-band devices the ETA is generated on a self-declaration basis, typically without further technical scrutiny, and can be downloaded from the portal.
7. Import with undertaking. At import, the ETA plus an undertaking to customs confirms the equipment operates in licence-exempt bands, enabling clearance.

Devices Outside the Self-Declaration Route

Equipment that operates in licensed spectrum, or that is not exempt from import licensing, follows the conventional route: application to the WPC Wing with full technical scrutiny, and where required an import licence and/or a dealer possession licence or experimental/demonstration licence. Satellite communication equipment, licensed-band radios, and high-power transmitters fall in this category and demand specialist regulatory handling.

Documents Required for WPC ETA (Self-Declaration)

• Completed online application on the Saral Sanchar portal
• RF test report from an accredited laboratory covering all radio interfaces
• Technical specification sheet / datasheet of the device and RF modules
• Details of operating frequency ranges, channel plan, and maximum output power (e.r.p / e.i.r.p)
• Company incorporation documents / import-export code (IEC) of the applicant
• Authorisation letter where an Authorised Indian Representative applies on behalf of a foreign manufacturer
• Purchase order or import documentation, where sought at customs stage
• Undertaking that the device conforms to the applicable gazette notification

Common Mistakes That Delay or Derail ETA

• Testing to the wrong band plan. FCC test reports covering 902–928 MHz RFID or non-India 5 GHz channels do not demonstrate compliance with Indian notifications. Reports must show conformity with the Indian band edges and power limits.
• Missing radios. Products increasingly contain multiple transmitters (Wi-Fi + BLE + NFC + UWB). Every transmitter must be declared and covered by test evidence.
• Confusing module ETA with device ETA. Even where an RF module holds ETA, the end product incorporating it generally requires its own approval — assuming module approval carries over is a frequent customs-stage failure.
• Power or duty-cycle non-conformity. Notifications such as GSR 1047 (E) impose duty-cycle limits (as low as 0.001% in some 169 MHz sub-bands) and channel-spacing conditions that are easy to overlook.
• Wrong applicant entity. The ETA should be held by an entity that can present it at import; mismatches between the ETA holder, the IEC holder, and the bill-of-entry importer cause clearance disputes.

How WPC ETA Interacts With Other Indian Approvals

WPC ETA rarely travels alone. A wireless product may simultaneously require BIS CRS registration under the Electronics and IT Goods Order (for products in the CRS schedules), TEC MTCTE certification if it is telecom terminal equipment, EPR registration for e-waste as electrical and electronic equipment, BEE star labelling for certain appliances, and Legal Metrology (LMPC) declaration compliance for packaged import. A coordinated compliance plan sequences these approvals so that testing is shared where possible and no single approval becomes the critical path.

Penalties and Enforcement: What Non-Compliance Actually Costs

The enforcement architecture around WPC approval operates at several levels, and companies planning the Indian market should understand each of them.

At the border, customs authorities cross-check wireless consignments against WPC requirements as part of import clearance. A consignment arriving without ETA is detained, and every day of detention accrues demurrage and container charges while the launch calendar slips. Importers then face a narrow set of options: obtain the approval retrospectively where possible (which requires test reports that may not exist yet), re-export the goods at their own cost, or abandon them. None of these outcomes is cheaper than doing the approval before shipment.

In the market, the legal foundation is the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, under which possession and operation of wireless equipment outside the licensed or licence-exempt framework is an offence. Enforcement actions can include seizure of equipment and prosecution. For organised businesses the more immediate commercial risk is platform enforcement: major e-commerce marketplaces conduct periodic compliance sweeps of wireless listings, and products without ETA evidence face delisting — cutting off the dominant sales channel for consumer wireless products overnight.

For foreign manufacturers, there is also a counterparty risk dimension. Indian distributors and importers increasingly demand ETA (and the wider compliance file) as a condition of purchase orders, because they carry the customs exposure. A manufacturer who cannot produce approval documentation loses deals to competitors who can.

Timeline and Budget Planning

For a typical multi-radio consumer device entering through the self-declaration route, a realistic plan looks like this: one to two weeks to complete the radio inventory, band mapping, and documentation review; one to three weeks for accredited laboratory testing depending on the number of radios and lab scheduling; and a few working days for the Saral Sanchar filing and certificate generation once reports are in hand. The government fee is ₹10,000 per application/model, with laboratory charges varying by the number of transmitters and test scope. Budget four to six weeks end to end for a first product, and considerably less for follow-on models that reuse module-level evidence.

The single best schedule protection is to lock the India RF configuration early in the design cycle — band edges, power classes, and duty cycles per the notifications above — so that testing is a confirmation exercise rather than a discovery of redesign work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WPC ETA mandatory even for licence-exempt bands?

Yes. De-licensing removes the requirement for an operating licence, not the requirement for equipment type approval. Every wireless device model imported into or sold in India requires ETA (self-declaration for de-licensed bands).

How long does ETA self-declaration take?

Once accredited RF test reports are available, the Saral Sanchar filing and certificate generation is typically completed within a few working days. The longest lead-time item is usually laboratory testing.

Does ETA expire?

ETA is model-specific and does not carry a periodic renewal in the manner of a BIS licence, but any hardware change affecting the RF characteristics requires fresh assessment.

Can a foreign manufacturer apply directly?

Foreign manufacturers without an Indian presence apply through an Authorised Indian Representative or their Indian importer. PCN India Global routinely acts as AIR for overseas clients.

What happens if my device also uses a licensed band?

The device falls outside the self-declaration route entirely. It requires conventional WPC scrutiny and potentially an import licence — engage regulatory support before committing to shipment dates.

Where can I check whether my frequency is de-licensed?

The gazette notifications listed in this guide are the primary legal source, consolidated in NFAP 2025 Annexure-1. In borderline cases — band-edge products, unusual power classes, or multi-region hardware — a professional band-plan review before procurement is far cheaper than discovering the answer at customs.

Why Choose PCN India Global

• Band-plan gap analysis — we map every radio in your product against the Indian de-licensing notifications before you commit to testing
• Accredited lab coordination — RF testing scheduled and monitored against the exact parameters of the applicable GSR notification
• End-to-end Saral Sanchar filing — from portal registration to ETA certificate download
• AIR services — we act as your Authorised Indian Representative for WPC, BIS, and allied approvals
• Customs-stage support — undertakings, ETA presentation, and query resolution so consignments clear without demurrage
• Integrated compliance — WPC ETA sequenced with BIS CRS, TEC MTCTE, EPR, and LMPC for a single go-to-market timeline

PCN India Global manages end-to-end WPC ETA approval for wireless devices across every de-licensed frequency band in India — from RF test planning to certificate grant and import clearance. Contact us: WhatsApp +91 92895 87478 or email bdm@pcnindiaglobal.com.