TEC APPROVAL

Types of Voluntary Testing Certification

The process by which a manufacturer or importer voluntarily subjects products to be tested when they do get such products tested under an optional scheme constitutes the basic idea of voluntary testing (TEC) certification. This gives consumers an additional assurance that the product concerned is safe, reliable, and of good quality. 

Two main types of voluntary testing certifications can be distinguished: 

1. TEC Voluntary Certification: This certification is for accreditation of telecom equipment voluntarily by a manufacturer or importer. It gives the manufacturer a way to substantiate that its product is by the best practice regime according to international requirements in terms of safety and performance of the user.
2. Other International Certifications (CE, UL, etc.): Multiple telecom equipment companies have decided to obtain international product certification through CE (Conformité Européenne), UL (Underwriters Laboratories), or ISO standards to verify product quality and environmental safety measures and ensure consumer safety. These voluntary certifications hold international recognition due to their worldwide respect.

The TEC registration duration extends between six to eight weeks.

The duration for TEC registration stands between 6 to 8 weeks, depending on product type and submitted documentation. Through our assistance at Induce India, you receive distinct services that help maintain both a timely and painless product certification process.

Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE)

The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) is an initiative started by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the sake of ensuring that telecom equipment meets the required technical and safety standards before putting the product in the market in India. Under this rule of MTCTE for telecom equipment, manufacturers, importers, and dealers of such items have to obtain certification before sale or distribution of these products in the Indian market from an authorized agency like TEC. 

The presence of MTCTE is important to specify the requirement concerning performance, quality, and safety of such equipment. It protects consumers concerning bad or unsafe products that can tamper with the network integrity or present a safety hazard.

Products Covered Under Phase-III of MTCTE

The MTCTE initiative has witnessed implementations in phases, with different categories of products being covered under each phase. Phase-III of the MTCTE encompasses that telecom equipment that has a direct bearing upon the safety and performance of the telecom networks. 

The following are included in the list of products under Phase-III: 

• Routers and network switches; optical networking equipment; base stations, including mobile towers; broadband equipment; and other network-related devices as an integral part of telecom infrastructure. 
• These products must conform to quality standards that assure their effective working in the telecommunications ecosystem in India. Testing for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), safety, and network interoperability is done on these products.

Products falling under the purview of Phase-IV MTCTE 

This step not only covers a much wider range of consumer telecom products under the ambit of mandatory certification but also imposes stricter requirements on devices part of a network. Notably, it requires that user devices that are directly hooked up into the telecom network and impact safety and performance be included in mandatory obligations. 

Phase-IV products include:

• Mobile handsets and smartphones
• Set-top boxes (STBs)
• M2M communication devices
• Smart home devices like IoT gadgets
• Other consumer electronics used for telecom services

By having these products properly qualified in terms of applicable technical standards, Phase-IV is indeed an important flagship of the entire MTCTE towards ensuring safety and reliability in devices used by several millions of Indian consumers.

Requirements for TEC Certification

Manufacturers and importers must fulfill these conditions to get TEC approval for their telecom equipment:

• Compliance with Standards: The product should pass all the technical standards that have been developed by TEC because the standards are based on various aspects like safety, quality, EMC, and network interoperability.
• Testing in TEC Accredited Labs: The equipment needs to be tested in the TEC accredited lab, and the product will be evaluated according to the standards.
• Documentation: All required documentation, including product specifications, test reports, and quality certificates, should be given along with the application to help in assessing the adherence of the product with the standards in question by the TEC.
• Application Fee: The manufacturer or importer is required to pay an application fee for the certification process.

Procedure of TEC Certification

The following general sequence of steps involves obtaining TEC certification:

• Application Submission: Manufacturers end up with an application for TEC certification with the required documents and fees.
• Testing and Evaluation: Upon submission of the application, the product is then tested in an approved laboratory for compliance with specified technical and safety standards.
• Report Generation and Review: Following completion of the test, a detailed test report is generated. The TEC reviews the report to determine if it meets standards.
• Certification Granting: Once cleared by the review, the product will be granted approval and certification with TEC, allowing it to be marketed and sold in India.
• Surveillance: Certification is done after which products are regularly monitored for compliance with TEC standards from time to time. 

Documents Required for Mandatory Testing & TEC Certification of Telecommunication Equipment

• Product Technical Specifications: These give detailed information on the design, function, and technical specification of the product. 
• Test Reports: Reports from accredited laboratories showing compliance of the product with standards. 
• Manufacturing Quality Certificate: A certificate issued by the manufacturer attesting to the product’s quality. 
• Authorization Letter: Document signed by the manufacturer allowing testing of the product. 

Timeline for TEC Certification

The TEC certification may have varying timelines, based on both the complexity of the product and the documentation provided. Typically, certification will be given after 6–8 weeks after application submission. There can be an extension of this timeline if testing or document review is delayed.

FAQs: On TEC Certification 

Q1. Which products are under TEC certification?

Ans: TEC certification is for all telecom-related products, including: 

• Mobile phones and smartphones
• Routers, modems, and Wi-Fi devices
• Set-top boxes for televisions
• Network switches and base stations
• Telephones, fax machines, and M2M devices

Induce India helps manufacturers and importers through the TEC certification process to make sure their products meet all standards.

Q2. How long does the TEC registration take?

Ans: The TEC registration duration extends between six to eight weeks. The duration for TEC registration stands between 6 to 8 weeks, depending on product type and submitted documentation. Through our assistance at Induce India, you receive distinct services that help maintain both a timely and painless product certification process.

Q3. A TEC certificate remains questionably valid during what period?

Ans: The validity duration of a TEC certification extends to 5 years. You need to perform its renewal after finishing this initial period. The renewal procedure for TEC certification will be handled by Induce India right when the time to renew arrives.

Q4. What steps should one follow to perform registration under the TEC system?

Ans: To prepare for TEC registration: 

• Make sure your product meets the relevant technical standards.
• Get it tested in a TEC-accredited laboratory.
• Prepare all the relevant documents.

Induce India assists you at every stage to ensure that everything goes smoothly for the application.

Q5. Do the authorities inform TEC certificate holders about changes in the regulations?

Ans: Yes, the DoT and TEC inform certificate holders about changes in regulations through official notifications. Induce India makes sure that you remain updated and compliant with any such changes.