Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) is the technical authority under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India. TEC is responsible for prescribing technical standards, testing requirements and certification procedures for telecom and networking equipment used in India.
Under the MTCTE (Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment) framework, telecom and networking products must obtain TEC certification before they can be imported, sold, connected or used in the Indian public telecom network.
TEC certification ensures that telecom products comply with Indian requirements related to safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC), technical performance, cyber security and network interoperability.
⚖️ Statutory Reference: MTCTE is mandated under Rule 528 of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951 (as amended in 2017). Cyber security testing under ITSAR (Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements) is mandatory from 1-Oct-2024 for select equipment categories. Non-certified equipment is liable to be seized at customs and the importer/manufacturer is liable for prosecution under the Indian Telegraph Act.
Manufacturers of telecom, networking and wireless communication equipment.
Importers selling telecom and networking products in India.
Manufacturers of smart devices, gateways, meters and connected products.
Vendors supplying equipment to telecom operators and enterprises.
Companies dealing in VSAT, radio and wireless communication systems.
Businesses participating in BSNL, MTNL, Railways and PSU tenders.
TEC offers multiple certification, testing and compliance schemes for telecom, networking, wireless and IoT equipment used or sold in India. Our experts identify the correct TEC / MTCTE route applicable to your product and manage the complete certification process from testing to approval.
| TEC Service / Scheme | Purpose | Validity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MTCTE — GCS (General)
|
Full conformance testing at TEC-designated CAB lab against applicable TEC ER. | 5 Years | 📡 Mandatory |
|
MTCTE — SCS (Simplified)
|
Document-based or self-declaration route for low-risk / well-established equipment. | 5 Years | 📋 Mandatory |
|
ITSAR — Cyber Security Testing
|
Mandatory security testing under Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements. | Per Certificate | 🛡️ Cyber Sec |
|
IoT / M2M Equipment Certification
|
TEC-mandated MTCTE for IoT gateways, smart meters, smart watches, M2M modules. | 5 Years | 🌐 IoT |
|
Voluntary Certification (TEC)
|
Certification of products outside the MTCTE list — useful for tenders & PSU procurement. | 5 Years | 🎯 Optional |
|
Issue of Acceptance (IoA)
|
Type approval acceptance for foreign certificates (legacy); now subsumed by MTCTE. | Per IoA | 🗂 Legacy |
|
Authorised Indian Representative (AIR)
|
Foreign manufacturer's local liaison for TEC filing & post-market surveillance. | Continuous | 🌍 Foreign OEMs |
|
Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
|
For prescribed low-risk categories — declaration backed by lab evidence. | 5 Years | ✅ Limited |
From product applicability assessment to final TEC Certificate issuance, we manage the complete MTCTE process — including coordination with TEC, designated CAB laboratories, ITSAR cyber-security labs, portal filing, technical query handling, observation closure and renewal support.
Identification of applicable TEC Essential Requirements (ERs) and certification route.
Creation of MTCTE portal account and Authorised Indian Representative support for foreign manufacturers.
Verification of datasheets, BoM, firmware details and technical files.
Assessment of potential testing risks before laboratory submission.
Coordination with TEC-approved Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).
Support for technical clarifications, re-testing and observation closure.
Issuance of TEC Certificate of Conformance.
Support for renewals, firmware updates and product variant additions.
Document requirements differ depending on the applicable scheme (GCS, SCS, ITSAR or IoT). We provide a customized checklist based on your product category and certification route after the initial consultation.
MTCTE is implemented in phases, and Phases I to V already cover most consumer, enterprise, optical, transmission and IoT telecom equipment used across India.
TEC issues Essential Requirements (ERs) for each notified telecom equipment category under MTCTE. These ERs define the technical, safety, EMI/EMC and cybersecurity compliance criteria applicable across Phases I–V, including the ITSAR cybersecurity framework.
| MTCTE Phase / Service | Notified Equipment Categories | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
|
Phase I (effective 01-Oct-2019)
|
Telephone instruments, FAX, PBX, ISDN CPE, modems | Basic CPE conformance |
|
Phase II (01-Oct-2020 onwards)
|
Smart watches, point-of-sale, repeaters, smart cameras | Consumer electronics & SOHO |
|
Phase III (01-Jan-2021 onwards)
|
Optical transmission, GPON/PON, switches, routers | Enterprise & carrier networks |
|
Phase IV (01-Jan-2022 onwards)
|
BTS / Node-B / eNodeB / gNB, microwave radios, repeaters | Mobile network elements |
|
Phase V (rolled out in 2023–24)
|
IoT gateways, M2M modules, smart meters, additional categories | IoT & emerging tech |
|
ITSAR — Telecom Cyber Security
|
Routers, GPON, IP-Router, Wi-Fi CPE, IoT, 5G core etc. | Mandatory security baseline |
|
TEC ER (per category)
|
Technical, safety, EMI/EMC, RF, network & security clauses | Conformance basis |
|
TEC GR / IR / SR
|
Generic / Interface / Service Requirements documents | Tender & design reference |
|
SDoC List
|
Specific low-risk categories permitted under self-declaration | Lite-route compliance |
|
NSCS — Trusted Source Portal
|
Trusted sources of telecom equipment for licensees | National Security mandate |
🔬 TEC Standards Bodies Referenced: ITU-T · ITU-R · ETSI · IEEE · IEC · ISO · 3GPP · CISPR · OWASP · NIST. TEC ERs typically harmonise these with India-specific overlays for spectrum, interface, security & environmental conditions.
TEC is headquartered at Janpath, New Delhi, and operates through regional offices along with an accredited network of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) that conduct testing as per TEC ERs and ITSAR requirements. We help you identify and coordinate with the most appropriate CAB for your specific product category.
| Office / CAB | Specialisation Highlights | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
|
TEC HQ — New Delhi
|
Khurshid Lal Bhawan, Janpath — Certifying Authority | Final issue of TEC certificate |
|
TEC Regional — Bangalore
|
Southern region — telecom & IT clusters | South India OEMs |
|
TEC Regional — Mumbai
|
Western region — telecom & financial sector | Western India OEMs |
|
TEC Regional — Kolkata
|
Eastern region — defence & PSU equipment | Eastern India suppliers |
|
STQC ETDC Bangalore
|
Designated CAB — Safety, EMI/EMC, telecom testing | CPE, IT, networking |
|
STQC ETDC Kolkata
|
Designated CAB — telecom, security testing | Optical, transmission, security |
|
TUV / SGS / BV India Labs
|
TEC-designated CABs — telecom, EMI/EMC, RF | Multinational OEMs |
|
UL / Element / Bureau Veritas
|
Recognised CABs for safety + security overlay | Consumer electronics |
|
ICAT / NIELIT Labs
|
Designated CABs — IoT, M2M, smart-meter testing | IoT & smart-grid players |
|
TEC-Empanelled ITSAR CAB Network
|
Cyber security testing labs for telecom equipment | ITSAR security certification |
⚠️ Important: Test slot availability and queue length at CAB labs varies by category. We help reserve slots in advance, choose the CAB with the shortest queue and combine MTCTE testing with parallel WPC ETA / BIS CRS testing wherever possible.
Common questions about TEC, MTCTE certification, ITSAR cyber security and the GCS / SCS schemes.
TEC (Telecommunication Engineering Centre) is the technical body of the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. MTCTE (Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecom Equipment) is the statutory scheme operated by TEC under the Indian Telegraph Rules, 2017, under which no telecom equipment may be sold, imported, used or connected to the Indian network without a TEC Certificate of Conformance.
If the product appears in the notified list of MTCTE Phase I–V equipment (CPE, smartphones, smart watches, GPON, switches, routers, BTS, IoT modules, etc.), MTCTE is mandatory. Customs clearance under HSN 8517 and allied codes is linked to a valid MTCTE certificate.
GCS (General Certification Scheme) requires full testing of equipment at a TEC-designated CAB lab against applicable Essential Requirements.
SCS (Simplified Certification Scheme) is a document-based or self-declaration route for low-risk products where ILAC-MRA reports may be accepted after TEC review. Most products fall under GCS.
ITSAR (Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements) defines cybersecurity standards for telecom equipment, including authentication, encryption, secure boot, patch management, and vulnerability handling. ITSAR testing is mandatory for several MTCTE categories.
Avoid delays in product launch, customs clearance, or tender participation. Our experts manage the complete TEC approval process — efficiently, accurately, and end-to-end, from application to final certification.
One of India's leading independent consultancy bodies providing compliance, certification, and regulatory services to international and domestic players in electronics, IT, chemical, and electrical sectors.
