Telecom Regulatory Body Expands Simplified Certification Scheme, Reduces Certification Time to Two Weeks
The Department of Telecommunications’ technical arm, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), has broadened the scope of its Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS), now encompassing 37 additional products effective from January 1, 2024. This strategic move aims to significantly slash the certification time from eight weeks to just two weeks, fostering a more business-friendly environment.
The newly included products span various categories, including media gateways, IP security equipment, IP terminals, optical fiber or cable, and transmission terminal equipment. This expansion elevates the total products covered by SCS to forty-nine from the initial twelve.
Starting January 1, 2024, TEC will only charge an administrative fee for Essential Requirement (ER)-based applications submitted under Mobile Handset Testing and Certification scheme (MTCTE), irrespective of their Global Conformity Assessment Scheme (GCS) and SCS category. Moreover, the evaluation fee has been completely waived, providing a substantial relief to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and applicants. This waiver equates to an impressive 80% reduction in the application fee, effectively alleviating the compliance burden.
The MTCTE regime presently encompasses sixty Telecom & Networking products, reflecting the government’s commitment to streamlining certification processes and fostering a conducive environment for the telecom industry.
