On 29 December 2025, New Delhi, India — The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) within the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Government of India has issued a major update regarding the certification of telecom equipment through the MTCTE scheme, allowing manufacturers, importers and regulatory compliance entities to receive regulatory clarity and operational assistance through the acceptance of ILAC accreditation test reports from internationally recognized testing laboratories.

Key Regulatory Highlights

The recent notification from the TEC (29th December 2025) has provided extended acceptance periods for test reports issued by ILAC-accredited laboratories until 30 June 2026 for products under the MTCTE.

About the MTCTE Scheme

The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) scheme is India’s flagship conformity assessment program for telecom products, governed by TEC and mandated under the Department of Telecommunications. It applies to a wide range of equipment such as mobile terminals, telemetry devices, routers, SIM services, transmission gear, and other network equipment — ensuring they meet stringent Essential Requirements (ERs) before market entry.

The broader types of products covered by the extension are as follows:
Core telecom equipment, including:
All types of base stations, including 5G NR Variants;
All types of SIM cards;
VHF/UHF Radio Communications Equipment;
E-band Fixed Radio Relay Systems.
Additionally, all technical variants under MTCTE will also be accepted.

Accepted test reports must be issued by an ILAC MRA-authorized laboratory and must be less than two years old on the date of submission to the MTCTE Portal.

What This Means for Industry

This regulatory extension empowers telecom manufacturers and global brands by reducing dependency on limited domestic testing facilities, enabling faster market access and smoother certification workflows — all while maintaining India’s stringent compliance and technical standards.

1.Faster time to market — manufacturers can leverage existing ILAC test reports
2.Cost optimisation — lowers immediate testing expenditures
3.Global-ready compliance pathway — easier alignment with international testing standards

Why This Update Matters

India’s MTCTE framework ensures that all notified telecom products meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and interoperability before being sold, distributed, or deployed within the Indian telecom ecosystem. The ILAC extension introduces a temporary global compliance bridge while safeguarding industry rigor.

The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is a globally recognised accreditation authority, helping assure test result reliability across borders — a critical aspect for companies operating in international markets.

About the MTCTE Scheme

The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) scheme is India’s flagship conformity assessment program for telecom products, governed by TEC and mandated under the Department of Telecommunications. It applies to a wide range of equipment such as mobile terminals, telemetry devices, routers, SIM services, transmission gear, and other network equipment — ensuring they meet stringent Essential Requirements (ERs) before market entry.

Expert Guidance

Organisations impacted by this update are advised to consult experienced certification partners for guidance on report validation, portal submission, deadlines, and transition planning post-June 2026. Early action can prevent compliance delays and optimise approval timelines.

📞 For Additional Information

Contact: SS Global Services — end-to-end regulatory compliance and certification support including MTCTE / TEC, BIS, WPC & related frameworks.
https://www.ssglobalservices.in/