DoT slashes telecom equipment evaluation fees by up to 95% to boost manufacturing, ease compliance

Telecom

In order to ease regulatory burden and promote domestic manufacturing of specialized telecom equipment, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on August 4 announced a steep reduction of up to 95% in security test evaluation fees under the Communication Security Certification Scheme.

The new structure, effective August 1, is expected to significantly lower costs for manufacturers - particularly MSMEs - and accelerate the pace of product certification in the telecom sector.

The fee cut has lowered the security testing cost for telecom equipment from the previous Rs 2–3.5 lakh range to as low as Rs 10,000. For instance, Group A equipment, which earlier required Rs 2 lakh for evaluation, will now cost just Rs 10,000. Evaluation fee on Group B and C have been reduced to Rs 20,000 and 30,000 respectively, while Group D, previously the most expensive at Rs 3.5 lakh, will now be charged Rs 50,000.

The move is part of a wider push by the government to improve the ease of doing business in the ICT (Information, Communication, Technology) sector and support local innovation.

The DoT also granted full fee exemptions for government R&D entities such as C-DOT and C-DAC for applications filed until March 31, 2028, to support public sector innovation.

In addition to the fee cuts, the DoT has simplified the compliance process for Highly-Specialized Equipment (HSE) and products nearing the end of their lifecycle. Currently, key equipment such as IP Routers, Wi-Fi CPEs, and 5G Core SMFs are under mandatory security testing, while Optical Line Terminals and ONTs remain under voluntary testing, with all fees waived until August 31, 2025.

The implementation of these reforms is being overseen by the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS). Under the ComSec scheme, all OEMs, importers, and dealers seeking to sell, import, or use telecom/ICT products in India must now ensure compliance with mandatory security testing protocols.

These changes fall under the broader Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) framework, first introduced in 2017 and recently updated through the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Certification) Rules, 2025.