The DoT has exempted certain products, including mobile user devices, mobile handsets and smartwatches, from the purview of its mandatory testing ‘MTCTE regime’, an official release said on Saturday.
The exemptions on these widely used products will ease the compliance burden and enable the industry to roll out their products faster, it said, adding that the move would also reduce delays in imports.
,Telecom Deptt (Department of Telecom) examined the issue in consultation with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and has now decided to exempt the following products from the purview of the MTCTE regime: Mobile User Devices / Mobile Handsets (Mobile Phones), Servers , smartwatches, smart cameras, PoS machines (Point of Sale devices),” the release said.
Under the Electronics and Information Technology (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012, MeitY makes mandatory registration of specified goods – such as laptops, wireless keyboards, POS machines and other electronic devices.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has specified ‘Compulsory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE)’ under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 for equipment that can be used for telecommunications.
Amidst the increasing convergence of technology, regulatory overlap was noted with respect to certain products such as smartwatches, smart cameras, etc.
Representations were also received from industries and associations regarding overlapping jurisdiction of DoT and MeitY.
“It is highlighted that such overlap is a deterrent for timely launch of new products. This also increases the compliance cost for the industry,” the release said.
Removal of regulatory overlap in mandatory testing for these products is a “regulatory reform” that will improve ease of doing business for electronics manufacturing companies and contribute to making India a USD 1 trillion digital economy. “Gazette notification in this regard will be issued in due course,” the statement said.