The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated the testing and certification of satellite communication (satcom) equipment, including gateways and user terminals, as India prepares to roll out satellite communication services.
Starting from the end of August, companies will only be allowed to use or import certified equipment, marking the first time such certification has been made compulsory in the country.
The directive outlines standards and conformity assessments for 14 types of telecom equipment, including non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite devices like integrated gateways and user terminals. The mandate will come into effect 180 days following the notification.
Several companies, including Eutelsat-OneWeb, Jio-SES, and Starlink, are vying to launch satellite communication services in India and are awaiting spectrum allocation despite securing regulatory approvals.
The notification states that once the mandate takes effect, the import, sale, distribution, or use of the specified telecommunication equipment will only be allowed if it complies with the mandatory testing and certification measures set by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre.
The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) scheme, introduced in 2019, aims to ensure telecom devices do not disrupt existing networks, safeguard users, and comply with national and international standards. The scheme has been implemented in phases, with satellite communication equipment now available under phase five.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to announce the pricing details for satcom spectrum soon.
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