The Telecommunications Equipment Certification (TEC) certificate application in India is a mandatory compliance requirement for telecommunication equipment under the MTCTE (Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecommunication Equipment). All equipment to be imported, sold, or used in the Indian Telecom market must first be certified.

To obtain TEC Certification, you must know the complete procedure. The certification steps include registering on the MTCTE portal, submitting the technical documentation for your product, which must be tested by a TEC-recognized laboratory—and obtaining your Certificate of Conformity Assessment. Only after this process will you be allowed to legally sell, import, or deploy your telecom equipment in the country. In this guide, you will get the complete TEC certification procedure for 2026, from eligibility to the most common errors that cause delays, ensuring your product certification is seamless.

Is TEC Certification Mandatory in India in 2026?

Yes, TEC Certification is compulsory in India in 2026. As per the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025, which have been framed in accordance with the Telecommunications Act, any notified telecommunications equipment and networking devices must possess a valid Certificate of Conformity (CoC) before they can be imported, sold, deployed or utilised in India.

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) are the organisations responsible for implementing the above framework.

Step-by-Step TEC Certification Process

To obtain TEC certification through the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) program in India, you must register on the official website, have your device tested at a designated lab, provide technical documentation such as the BOM, and pay the applicable fees. Foreign manufacturers also need to appoint the Authorised Indian Representative (AIR).

Follow the steps to get TEC Certification for your product easily: 

Register Online at MTCTE Official Portal:

  • Visit the MTCTE website and create your profile by entering all your company details. This will be the account you use to monitor everything related to your applications, test results, and certifications from now on.

Identify Applicable ER Standards:

Telecom products always have certain Essential Requirements (ERs) that their technical, safety, and EMC criteria must comply with. Determining the applicability of your telecom product within the General, Simplified, or Voluntary scheme right from the beginning can save you a lot of time, as choosing the wrong scheme is one of the biggest mistakes applicants make.

Submit Specification & Bill of Materials:

Provide a complete product specification as well as a Bill of Materials that contains all components of your invention. It should be noted that the Bill of Materials must be prepared according to TEC's strictly defined format; otherwise, formatting errors or missing information will result in rejection.

Send Sample for Mandatory Lab Testing:

Product samples should undergo testing by TEC-CABs or certified labs to demonstrate compliance with the relevant Essential Requirements. Selecting a qualified and properly certified lab to perform tests for your product type helps ensure no false results or repeated testing cycles in the future.

Upload Test Reports & Pay Fees:

Once testing is complete, submit the lab's entire test report along with the required test summary document. The submission of the evaluation fees marks the official entry of your application into the queue for review by TEC.

Application Review and Certification Approval: 
All queries regarding your application are submitted by TEC officials via the portal. Quick and accurate responses to these queries are essential to avoid delays, since your Certificate of Conformity Assessment will be issued after verification is complete.

Who Can Apply for TEC Certification?

The following are applicable for TEC Certification in India:

  • Indian Manufacturers (OEMs): Indian manufacturing entities producing telecommunication and networking goods in India.
  • Foreign Manufacturers: Foreign-based manufacturing entities planning to export and sell their telecom goods in India.  
  • Authorised Indian Representatives (AIR): Indian-based authorised representative offices nominated by foreign manufacturers for filing the application on behalf of the foreign entity.
  • Importers and Dealers: Organisations dealing in the import and sale of notified ICT and telecom goods in India.

Common Challenges & How to Avoid Delays in TEC Certification?

The common challenges faced by manufacturers and importers while obtaining TEC Certification are as follows: 

  • Product Classification Error: Choosing the wrong telecom product group or Essential Requirement (ER).
  • Incomplete Documents: Absence of relevant technical sheets, manuals, block diagrams, specifications, and other necessary documents.
  • Incorrect Test Reports: Test reports can be incomplete or contain errors, such as missing parameters or incorrect product information.
  • Testing by Inappropriate Laboratory: Testing in a laboratory that does not satisfy the relevant TEC requirements.
  • Product Information Errors: Inconsistencies in product model, brand name, manufacturer's name, and specifications.

An expert TEC Certification consultant can ensure that manufacturers and importers avoid unnecessary delays and errors in the documentation process and that their applications aren't rejected for any reason. The consultant helps classify the product, identify TEC requirements, conduct testing, and apply MTCTE.

Conclusion

TEC Certification in India is not a complicated or time-consuming process if you know the complete step-by-step process, starting with registration on the MTCTE website, through determining Essential Requirements and providing relevant documentation, to testing your product at an accredited CAB. Getting assistance from an experienced TEC certification consultant will enable organisations to conduct testing, prepare documentation, file applications, and answer any TEC-related questions effectively. 

FAQs

Q1. Who can apply for the TEC Certificate?

Ans. Any manufacturer, importer, distributor, or OEM of telecom equipment to be sold or used in India is eligible to apply. If you are an overseas manufacturer without any presence in India, you must apply for TEC certification through your authorised representative in India.

Q2. What is the fee structure for the TEC certificate?

Ans. Fees vary according to the product category, the Certification Scheme chosen (General, Simplified, and Voluntary Schemes), and testing lab charges. Since the fee structure is subject to periodic changes, it would be best to contact a TEC Certification expert for current charges or visit the MTCTE portal.

Q3. How many weeks does it take to obtain a TEC Certificate?

Ans. It usually takes around 4-8 weeks, depending upon the complexity of the product and the completion of documentation and testing. Usually, delays in obtaining the TEC certificate occur due to incomplete BOM information or incorrect standards.

Q4. What are the steps of TEC Certification in India?

Ans. The TEC Certification Steps include registration on the MTCTE portal, identification of Essential Requirements and scheme, submission of product information and BOM, testing at authorised