Comprehensive Guide to TEC Certification in India: Everything You Need to Know

What does it mean to have TEC Certification?

 The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Government of India is in charge of TEC Certification. This is a necessary clearance for telecom and electronic equipment to be lawfully marketed and used in India. This certification makes sure that items meet Indian safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and other important criteria.

 Under the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) regime, TEC Certification is very important for keeping the quality and safety requirements of products that come into India's telecom ecosystem.

 Who Should Get TEC Certification?

 Before they may sell or launch their telecom and electronics products in India, manufacturers, importers, and brand owners must get TEC Certification for these products. This rule applies to both businesses in the US and businesses outside of the US.

 Types of Products That Can Get TEC Certification

 The TEC changes its list of products that need to be certified on a regular basis. The most recent notification lists the following main categories:

 Mobile Devices (like tablets and smartphones)

 Routers and modems

 Controllers for Base Stations

 Equipment for Optical Fiber

 Switches for Networks

 Smart Watches that Can Use a SIM Card

 IP Security Tools

 IoT Devices with SIM or Communication Modules

 Each type of product falls into one of two groups: Essential Requirements (ERs) or General Certification Scheme (GCS). It must follow the rules for that group.

 The TEC Certification Process

 1. Grouping Products

 The first thing you need to do is figure out if your product is on the list of things that TEC says you have to do. You can check this on the official TEC website or talk to a certified testing or certification specialist.

 2. Sign up for the MTCTE Portal

 People who want to apply must sign up on the official MTCTE website (https://mtcte.tec.gov.in). You can use this website to submit papers, choose testing laboratories, and keep track of the whole certification process.

 3. Sending in a test sample

 After the application is sent in, manufacturers must send product samples to TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) for Type Approval testing.

 4. Testing and Review

 The authorized TEC CAB tests the product thoroughly against the Essential Requirements (ERs), which include

 EMI/EMC Compliance

 Tests for Safety (IS 13252)

 Requirements for Technology

 Features for security

 5. Uploading Documents

 You need to send in a complete set of documents for review, such as:

 Data Sheets for Products

 Diagrams of Circuits

 Bill of Materials (BoM)

 Technical Construction File (TCF)

 Reports on Tests

 OEM Authorization Letter (if needed)

 6. Giving out certificates

 TEC gives out a Certificate of Conformance that is good for five years unless otherwise stated when the product passes testing and verification. The product is now permitted to sell in India.

 Important Papers Needed for TEC Certification

 To get your TEC Certificate, you must have the following documents:

 Agreement for an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) (if the manufacturer is not Indian)

 File for Technical Construction (TCF)

 User Guides

 ISO Certificate from the Manufacturer

 Images and labels for the product

 OEM Agreement (if necessary)

 Factory License or Certificate of Incorporation

 Indian BIS Certificate (if needed)

 Length of Time and Validity

 Testing Time: Usually takes three to four weeks, depending on how hard the tests are and how many test laboratories are available.

 Processing of the certificate: After you submit your test, it may take 1–2 weeks to get your certificate.

 Validity of the certificate: It is usually good for five years, however it can be renewed.

 How much does TEC Certification cost?

 The overall cost changes based on:

 Type of product

 How many models/variants there are

 Costs for testing labs

 Optional professional advice

 It costs between INR 1,00,000 and INR 3,00,000 or more per model to get TEC certification. This includes the cost of testing, applying, and making the paperwork.

 Plans for TEC Certification

 There are two main ways to get certified:

 1. General Certification Scheme (GCS)

 This program certifies products based on test results from TEC-approved labs. This plan covers most telecom equipment.

 2. The Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS)

 This applies to equipment when a declaration of conformity is enough, as long as it is tested randomly. Used mostly for telecom equipment that isn't very important.

 TEC Labeling Rules

 All certified products must have the TEC Mark, which includes:

 Number of TEC Certification

 Number of the Model

 Information about the manufacturer

 If you don't follow the rules for labeling, you could get in trouble or lose your certificate.

 Punishments for Not Following the Rules

 It is against the law to sell or bring telecom equipment into India without a valid TEC certificate. Things that happen are:

 Big Fines

 Taking things away

 Recall of Product

 No more certification for you

 Benefits of TEC Certification: It lets you legally sell telecom equipment in India.

 Consumer Trust: Makes ensuring that products are safe and work as they should.

 Government Projects: You can take part in public tenders if you meet certain requirements.

 Brand Value: Makes the brand look better and more trustworthy.

 How to Choose an Indian Representative for Foreign Companies

 Foreign companies must hire an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to be their local contact for:

 Putting in the application

 Working with TEC

 Dealing with questions after certification

 The AIR needs to be:

 A citizen of India or a registered Indian business

 Legally obligated by an agreement that has been notarized and apostilled

 TEC Certification vs. BIS Certification: What Are the Differences? TEC Certificat BIS Certification Governing Body: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) Focus Area: Telecom/ICT Equipment and Electrical/Electronic Safety Is it required? Yes, for telecom goods Yes, for CRS Test Labs goods that have been reported TEC-Designated CABs Labs that have been approved by BIS

 Note: Depending on how they work, some goods may need both TEC and BIS certifications.

 Newest news about TEC Certification (2025)

 Under MTCTE Phase V, TEC has added more IoT and M2M devices to its product range.

 Critical communication products must now follow cybersecurity rules.

 Under the MoU, you can test remotely and accept test reports from certain foreign labs.

 In conclusion

 Getting TEC Certification is more than just a formality; it's the key to India's quickly growing market for telecom and digital infrastructure. By making sure that your goods meet TEC's strict requirements, you show that you care about quality, safety, and making sure that they work with other technologies.

 Getting TEC approved is important for both small and large electronics companies that want to do business in India.