MTCTE Compliance: TEC Certificate for Telecom Equipment
If your product connects to a telecom network and its type is notified under MTCTE, it cannot be sold or deployed in India without a Certificate of Conformity Assessment from the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC). We register you on the MTCTE portal, prepare the documents, coordinate with a TEC-designated lab and file the application.
What it is
MTCTE stands for Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment. Think of it as an entry pass. It checks that telecom and network equipment meets Indian standards before it reaches the market. TEC, the technical wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), runs it along with the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) for security requirements.
The legal base today is Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025, notified as G.S.R. 315(E) on 16 May 2025. These rules replaced rules 528 to 537 of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951, under which MTCTE started in 2017. Rule 8(2) is blunt: no valid certificate, no sale or deployment. The working procedure is the MTCTE Procedure v3.0 (TEC 93009:2024, April 2024), and every application runs on the MTCTE portal at mtcte.tec.gov.in.
Who it applies to
You make the device in India
An Indian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) making a notified product, say a router or an IoT gateway, applies in its own name on the MTCTE portal.
You sell a foreign brand here
A foreign OEM cannot apply directly. It appoints an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), a company or firm incorporated in India (often a private limited company) and authorised by the OEM, which holds the MTCTE responsibilities and applies on its behalf.
You import and act as AIR
Trading companies that import notified equipment often take on the AIR role for the brand. If you already hold an Import Export Code, the AIR registration is the next step before the goods can be sold. Picture a Faridabad trader bringing in Wi-Fi routers from an overseas maker: the IEC clears the import, but the routers still need MTCTE before they go on sale.
Why it matters
Sell without legal risk
Without a valid certificate, notified equipment cannot be sold or used in an Indian telecom network under Rule 8(2) of the 2025 Rules.
Certify once for ten years
A regular MTCTE certificate is valid for ten years from the date of issue under Procedure v3.0, up from the earlier five years. That cuts repeat filings for long-life products.
Cover variants on one certificate
Up to nine associated models built from the same tested main model can be added to one certificate, so a product family does not need a separate filing per model.
Documents required
From the applicant company
- Certificate of incorporation or firm registration
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Latest shareholding pattern with board details
- Authorisation letter for the person signing on the portal
If you are an AIR
- MoU between the foreign OEM and the Indian representative
- OEM’s authorisation for MTCTE responsibilities in India
- Contact details of the OEM’s technical team
For the product
- Test reports from a TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), not older than five years
- Or, where allowed, ILAC-accredited lab reports not older than two years
- Technical specifications, model list and photos
- BIS safety certificate, where the safety parameter is covered by it
How it works
Map your product to its standard
We check whether your product is notified, which Essential Requirement (ER) applies and which scheme it falls under. Many delays start with a wrong guess here.
Register the applicant on the portal
We upload your company documents, or the OEM–AIR documents, and get the applicant profile approved on the MTCTE portal.
Get the product tested
Testing is done by a TEC-designated CAB, an independent accredited lab, not by us. We book the lab, share the test plan and track the report.
File the application
We file the application with the test reports and pay the administrative fee. TEC evaluates GCS files; SCS files go through on your self-declaration and reports.
Label and keep records
Once the certificate issues, we help you put the TEC label on in the prescribed format and keep the file ready for checks.
GCS and SCS compared
| Point | General Certification Scheme (GCS) | Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical products | Base stations, radio systems, satellite equipment and other higher-risk items | Modems, routers, switches, optical cables and similar items listed in the procedure |
| Who checks the reports | TEC evaluates the test reports | Reports are submitted but not evaluated by TEC at the time of grant |
| Processing time (Procedure v3.0) | 4 to 8 weeks from submission | Within 15 working days |
| Certificate validity | 10 years | 10 years |
Timelines
Plan for approval time
GCS files take 4 to 8 weeks from submission; SCS files, fifteen working days. Here is the catch: lab testing time comes on top. In practice, a Gurugram startup with a new IoT gateway should book the lab before fixing its launch date.
Track validity and renewal
A regular certificate is valid for ten years from the date of issue. Where testing facilities are not yet ready, a provisional certificate is issued, normally for two years and extendable by two more.
Fix labels within six months
The TEC label must appear on the product. There is a six-month window from the date of mandatory notification or certificate issue, whichever is later, to bring labels in line.
What happens if you sell without a certificate
A notice to stop sales
Under Rule 12(1) of the 2025 Rules, the authority can issue a notice requiring you to discontinue non-compliant equipment within seven days.
Seizure proceedings
Under Rule 12(3), the authority may start legal proceedings for seizure or destruction of equipment that breaches the rules.
A ten-times fee later
The MTCTE procedure sets a contravention fee of ten times the applicable fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is MTCTE certification?
MTCTE certification is the TEC certificate that notified telecom equipment needs before it can be sold or deployed in India. It is issued under Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the 2025 conformity assessment rules, after the product is tested against the Indian Essential Requirements. A regular certificate is valid for ten years, so once it is in place you can focus on selling.
Is MTCTE the same as BIS registration?
No, MTCTE and BIS are separate schemes run by different bodies. MTCTE is run by TEC under the Department of Telecommunications and covers telecom parameters such as EMI/EMC, RF and security. BIS runs its own registration for electronics safety. Some products need both, and a valid BIS safety certificate can be used for the safety parameter in MTCTE. We check both lists at the start, so nothing is missed.
Can a foreign manufacturer apply directly?
No, a foreign OEM applies through an Authorised Indian Representative. The AIR must be a company or firm incorporated in India and duly authorised by the OEM, usually under an MoU. The AIR takes on the MTCTE responsibilities for that equipment in India. Many importers already act as AIR for the brands they bring in, and we can set up the paperwork for that role.
What is the difference between GCS and SCS?
Under GCS, TEC evaluates your test reports before granting the certificate; under SCS, the reports are submitted but not evaluated by TEC at the time of grant. GCS covers higher-risk items such as base stations and radio systems and takes 4 to 8 weeks. SCS covers items like modems, routers and switches and is processed within fifteen working days. We confirm the scheme for your product on day one.
Where does the product get tested?
Testing is done at a TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Body, an accredited lab recognised by TEC, and the reports must not be older than five years. For some parameters, ILAC-accredited lab reports up to two years old are accepted. We do not test products ourselves; we coordinate with the lab, share the documents it needs and check the report before it goes on the portal.
How long is an MTCTE certificate valid?
A regular MTCTE certificate is valid for ten years from the date of issue under Procedure v3.0. Earlier certificates carried five years. Provisional certificates, issued where Indian testing facilities are not yet ready, normally run for two years and can be extended by two more. We track your expiry dates and remind you well before renewal is due.
What is the TEC government fee?
The TEC administrative fee depends on the product’s group: ₹10,000 for Group A, ₹20,000 for Group B, ₹30,000 for Group C and ₹50,000 for Group D under Procedure v3.0. Lab testing charges are separate and are billed by the lab directly. Government R&D institutes have a fee waiver up to 31 March 2028. We confirm the exact group for your product before you pay.
Do I need a new certificate for every model?
Not always. Up to nine associated models, built from the chassis or motherboard and ports of a tested main model with the largest configuration, can sit on one certificate. A change limited to labelling also does not need a fresh certificate under Rule 9 of the 2025 Rules. We plan the model list carefully so you file as few applications as possible.
What happens if I sell equipment without the certificate?
The authority can order you to stop. Under Rule 12(1) of the 2025 Rules it may issue a notice to discontinue the equipment within seven days, and under Rule 12(3) it may start proceedings for seizure or destruction. The procedure also sets a contravention fee of ten times the normal fee. If stock has already shipped, talk to us early; a clean application filed quickly limits the damage.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government side: TEC’s administrative fee under MTCTE Procedure v3.0 is ₹10,000, ₹20,000, ₹30,000 or ₹50,000 for product Groups A to D. The lab bills testing separately.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product list and datasheets, and we will tell you which models need MTCTE, under which scheme, and what the filing will involve.