On July 19, 2024, the National Centre for Communications Security (NCCS) of India issued a notice announcing the commencement of mandatory security certification (MSC) for 5G Session Management Functions (SMFs) from January 1, 2025.

The 5G SMF voluntary security certification, which will take effect from June 1, 2024, will end on December 31, 2024.

Click this link to view the original notification.

On July 1, 2024, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of India issued a notice extending the mandatory certification date for 5 categories of products (ERs) below MTCTE Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V to October 1, 2024: Smart Meters (Phase III), Satellite Communication Equipment (Phase IV), 5G Cellular Base Stations (Phase V), Hipervisor (Phase V), IP Terminals (Phase V). In addition, the final acceptance date of test reports issued by signatories to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) for non-land-bordering countries will be extended to September 30, 2024 for 5 types of products: 4G and below base stations, 5G base stations, SIM, VHF/UHF wireless equipment and E-band fixed wireless relay systems.

Click this link to view the original announcement.

On 20 May 2024, India's Directorate General of External Trade (DGFT) issued Circular No. 13/2024-25 amending the provisions on the importation of electronic and IT products in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 and the ITC HS 2022 Schedule 1 Import Policy. Emphasise that electronic and IT products, whether imported as new or second-hand, must be registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and comply with BIS labelling requirements prior to importation. The version of the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme has been updated from 2012 to 2021.

Click this link to view the original notification.

The Telecommunications Engineering Centre of India (TEC) published the TEC 93009:2024 Mandatory Test and Certification Procedure for Telecommunications Equipment (MTCTE) Version 3.0 on 3 April 2024. This new release includes the following major updates:

• The validity of regular MTCTE certificates has been extended from 5 to 10 years;
• Revised MTCTE TEC labeling requirements;
• For government agencies, the certification fee is waived, and the test report evaluation fee is cancelled;
• Updated definitions for fiber optic cable series and related models;
• Update the report upload requirements in the SCS scheme;
• Safety requirements under MTCTE may be accepted with a valid certificate issued by BIS or a test report from a BIS accredited laboratory;
• MTCTE can accept Certificate of Approval of Source (SAC);
• Clarified the definition of end-of-life/end-of-sale of a replacement product under the complete warranty;
• CAB test reports specifying the General Requirements (GR)/Interface Requirements (IR) for ER parameters under MTCTE will be accepted
• The relevant requirements of ITSAR were announced.

Click this link to view the original article of TEC 93009:2024.

On 4 April 2024, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched a public consultation on the auction of spectrum in the bands 37-37.5 GHz, 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5 GHz identified by International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).

Click on this link to view the original consultation. The public consultation is open for comments until 2 May 2024.

On March 28, 2024, the Indian Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) issued a notice numbered 1-6/2022-TC/TEC extending the mandatory security testing period for Wi-Fi CPE and IP routers under the MTCTE certification scheme from April 1, 2024 to July 1, 2024.

Click this link to view the original TEC notice.

On 1 April 2024, the Indian Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) issued a notice numbered 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/192 to postpone the mandatory implementation date of some products in Phase III and Phase IV to August 1, 2024, as follows:

• The mandatory date for cellular communication base stations and smart meters for Phase-III has been postponed to August 1, 2024, and the mandatory date for SIM, mobile radio trunking system, VHF/UHF wireless system equipment, PTP PMP microwave fixed wireless system, LAN switch, router, IP security equipment, and satellite communication equipment for Phase-IV has been postponed to August 1, 2024
• For cellular base stations, SIM, VHF/UHF wireless system equipment, and satellite communication equipment, TEC can accept reports issued by ILAC authorized laboratories in non-land bordering countries with India between March 31, 2024 and July 31, 2024.

Click this link to view the original TEC notice.

On January 8, 2024, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre of India (TEC) issued a circular No. 5-5/2021-TC/TEC announcing the submission of a general exemption for test reports on test parameters and interfaces of some ERs under MTCTE. This waiver has been extended until June 30, 2024, or until further notice. The exemption applies to the following equipment-related parameters: Media Gateways, Mobile Wireless Trunking Systems, Cellular Network Repeaters, Precision Timing Protocol Master Clock Devices, VHF UHF Radio System Equipment, Radio Broadcast Receivers, PON Series Broadband Devices, ADSLx, VDSLx, Routers.

Click this link to view the original TEC announcement.

As per the latest notification dated 9 January 2024, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has changed the concurrent testing from a pilot project of BIS-CRS to a permanent scheme based on consultation with stakeholders and the agreement of the Ministry of Electronics and Information of India (MEITY).

It's important to note that parallel testing is voluntary in nature, and manufacturers can apply for BIS certification through the existing process. If any application related to parallel testing is rejected/not processed at a subsequent stage, the manufacturer will bear the entire risk (including costs) in the process. Manufacturers should update the Critical Component List (CCL) as soon as the product is registered. In the case of CRS coverage, the manufacturer should subsequently use the component with the corresponding number (R-no.).

Click this link to view the original official notice.

The Telecom Engineering Center (TEC) of India announced on December that the mandatory date for security testing of Wi-Fi CPE and IP Routers has been extended for and additional three months.  In the postponement announcement issued on June 12, 2023, the TEC has postponed the mandatory safety testing, which was originally scheduled to begin on July 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024, and has now been rescheduled to begin on April 1, 2024. As of April 1, 2024, TEC will begin accepting online applications for security certifications through the integrated MTCTE and NCCS portals.

Click this link to view the original TEC announcement.