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TEC Approval
Also known as Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) Approval, is a certification process required for certain telecommunications equipment in India. TEC is a nodal agency under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) responsible for formulating standards, specifications, and testing procedures for telecom equipment.
• Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE)
TEC notification provides that all telecom equipment notified under MTCTE must undergo mandatory testing and certification prior to sale, import of use in India. The testing is to be carried out based on the Essential Requirements for the equipment, by Indian Accredited (Labs designated by TEC) and based on their test reports, TEC issuing the certificate.
TEC has covered the 57 products under MTCTE category till phase 5.
Products covered under MTCTE:
| Sr. No. | Products covered in TEC | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2- Wire Telephone Equipment | Phase 1 |
| 2 | G3 Fax Machine | Phase 1 |
| 3 | Modem | Phase 1 |
| 4 | Cordless Telephone | Phase 1 |
| 5 | ISDN Customer Premises Equipment | Phase 1 |
| 6 | Private Automatic Branch Exchange(PABX) | Phase 1 |
| 7 | PON Family of Broadband Equipment | Phase 2 |
| 8 | Feedback Devices | Phase 2 |
| 9 | Transmission Terminal Equipment | Phase 2 |
| 10 | Equipments Operating in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Band | Phase 3 |
| 11 | End Point Device for Environmental Monitoring | Phase 3 |
| 12 | Repeater for Cellular Network | Phase 3 |
| 13 | Base Station for Cellular Network | Phase 3 |
| 14 | Compact Cellular Network | Phase 3 |
| 15 | IoT Gateway | Phase 3 |
| 16 | Tracking Device | Phase 3 |
| 17 | Smart Electricity Meter | Phase 3 |
| 18 | Mobile Radio Trunking System | Phase 4 |
| 19 | Conferencing Equipment | Phase 4 |
| 20 | HF Radio | Phase 4 |
| 21 | VHF UHF Radio System Equipment | Phase 4 |
| 22 | PTP PMP Microwave Fixed Radio Systems | Phase 4 |
| 23 | Media Gateway | Phase 4 |
| 24 | Signalling Gateway | Phase 4 |
| 25 | Session Border Controller | Phase 4 |
| 26 | Softswitch | Phase 4 |
| 27 | DSL Equipments | Phase 4 |
| 28 | Satellite Communication Equipment | Phase 4 |
| 29 | LAN Switch | Phase 4 |
| 30 | Router | Phase 4 |
| 31 | IP Security Equipment Precision Timing Protocol Grand Master Equipment | Phase 4 |
| 32 | Mobile Management Entity | Phase 4 |
| 33 | Cell Broadcast Centre | Phase 4 |
| 34 | IP Multimedia Conferencing Equipment | Phase 4 |
| 35 | BSC RNC | Phase 4 |
| 36 | SMLC or eSMLC | Phase 4 |
| 37 | SGSN or GGSN | Phase 4 |
| 38 | HLR AUC HSS | Phase 4 |
| 39 | MSC or MSC-S or GMSC or GMSC-S including VLR | Phase 4 |
| 40 | Infiniband Switch | Phase 4 |
| 41 | OTA and DM or FOTA | Phase 4 |
| 42 | SCP | Phase 4 |
| 43 | OMC or EMS or NMS or OSS | Phase 4 |
| 44 | S-GW or P-GW | Phase 4 |
| 45 | SMSC | Phase 4 |
| 46 | GMLC | Phase 4 |
| 47 | EIR | Phase 4 |
| 48 | Optical Fibre Cable | Phase 4 |
| 49 | SIM | Phase 4 |
| 50 | Radio Broadcast Receiver RBR | Phase 4 |
| 51 | Optical Fibre – Single Mode | Phase 4 |
| 52 | Base Station for Cellular Network for 5G | Phase 5 |
| 53 | 5G Core | Phase 5 |
| 54 | Hypervisor | Phase 5 |
| 55 | E-band Fixed Radio Relay Systems | Phase 5 |
| 56 | Converged Multiservice Application Access Equipmnt | Phase 5 |
| 57 | IP Terminal | Phase 5 |
Here\'s An Overview Of The TEC Approval Process
- Preparation of the application documents
- Product testing as TEC Product ERs
- Submission of manufacturer documents and test reports
- Issuance of the TEC certificate
Application Submission: The manufacturer or importer of the telecommunications equipment submits an application for TEC Approval to the Telecom Engineering Centre.
Documentation: The applicant provides all necessary documentation, including product details, technical specifications, test reports, and compliance certificates.
Testing and Evaluation: The telecommunications equipment undergoes thorough testing and evaluation to ensure compliance with the technical standards and specifications defined by TEC. This testing covers various aspects such as electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), performance parameters, and interoperability.
Certification: Upon successful completion of testing and evaluation, TEC issues the TEC Approval certificate, indicating that the telecommunications equipment meets the required technical standards and is approved for use in India.
Compliance Marking: Telecommunications equipment that has obtained TEC Approval may be required to bear the compliance marking specified by TEC. This marking serves as an indication to consumers and regulators that the equipment has met the necessary requirements.
Renewal and Surveillance: TEC Approval certificates may have a validity period, after which they need to be renewed. Additionally, TEC may conduct periodic surveillance and audits to ensure ongoing compliance with the technical standards.
TEC Approval is essential for telecommunications equipment manufacturers and importers to legally sell their products in the Indian market. It ensures that the equipment meets the required technical standards, thereby promoting interoperability, safety, and quality in the telecommunications sector.
• Voluntary Testing Certification
TEC also offering the voluntary certification schemes based on its product and relevant technical standards. This schemes certify the product and equipment based on the testing against the related parameters and conditions in the respective TEC technical standards. The testing is generally carried out on-site at the manufacturer’s location or in lab environment.
There are different schemes under Voluntary Certification:
- Type Approval
- Interface Approval
- Certificate of Approval
- Technology Approval