No more TESTING for new smartphones, smartwatches in India, says Telecom Department

The DoT has exempted several gadgets such as smartphones, smartwatches, server, smart camera, and more. Here are all details.

Smartphones are now exempt from mandatory `MTCTE regime' testing. (Representative Image) (Priya / HT Tech)

In what comes as a new development, the DoT, or Department of Telecom has exempt certain technology products such as mobile user equipment, mobile handsets, and smartwatch from the mandatory `MTCTE regime' testing. This was done to remove a regulatory overlap that had previously delayed the arrival of new products to the country.

The new exemptions introduced by DoT on these popular category of products will reduce the compliance burden and enable the industry to launch their new products faster. The DoT says that the new move could also help reduce import delays.

"DoT (Telecom Department) in consultation with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) examined the issue and has now decided to exempt the following products from the ambit of MTCTE regime: Mobile User Equipment / Mobile handset (Mobile phone), server, smartwatch, smart camera, PoS Machine (Point of Sale Devices)," said the official press release.

DoT exempts smartphones from mandatory testing

The MTCTE is called Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE)' under Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 for equipment capable of being used for telecommunications. The MeitY carries out the Compulsory Registration of specified goods such as laptops, wireless keyboards, PoS machines and other electronic equipment.

"It was highlighted that such overlap is a deterrent for the timely launch of new products. It also increases the compliance cost for the industry," said the release.

The removal of regulatory overlap in mandatory testing for these products is a "regulatory reform" that will improve the ease of doing business for electronics manufacturing companies and contribute towards making India a USD 1 trillion digital economy. "The gazette notification in this regard will be issued in due course," it said.

What remains to be seen is how this change affects the arrival of new products to the Indian market. The smartphone market could benefit highly from this – manufacturers could now bring global models to the Indian market faster than ever. Devices like smartwatches, smart cameras and servers will also benefit from this rule.

(With inputs from PTI)