India MTCTE, TEC, and BIS Certification Guide for Global IT Teams

India's economy continues to grow quickly. With rapidly growing tech hubs and strong mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, India continues to secure its place as a key player in global IT. If your multinational company is expanding into India, understanding the country’s regulatory frameworks is essential. Key certifications like Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE), and governing bodies such as Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), play a critical role in ensuring compliance and smooth customs clearance for telecom and networking hardware.

This guide breaks down how MTCTE works, where TEC and BIS are involved, and what’s required at both the product and shipment levels to help global IT teams avoid common compliance pitfalls when shipping IT hardware to India.

What is MTCTE?

TEC introduced MTCTE in 2017 to regulate telecom equipment and ensure that all imports comply with Indian technical standards. The program was phased in over several years and now encompasses a wide range of products. MTCTE certifies any equipment that connects to a public telecommunications network, whether through wired or wireless technology.

The main goal of MTCTE is to ensure that telecom equipment meets India’s safety and performance standards. In doing so, it safeguards the integrity of India’s telecom infrastructure and ensures that imported products do not pose risks to the network.

Scope of MTCTE Regulations

MTCTE regulations apply to various categories of equipment. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure the product is MTCTE certified before it reaches you, the shipper. Your main responsibility as the shipper is to confirm that the equipment is certified and that you have prepared all necessary certification documentation before shipping.

If your product is not MTCTE certified, clearing it through Indian customs will be challenging, and it may be delayed or rejected. MTCTE certification applies to a wide range of telecom equipment, including networking devices like routers, switches, gateways, and firewalls. If a product has the HS code 8571.62, it’s likely MTCTE will cover it.

In late 2024, MTCTE expanded to cover a broader range of networking hardware including:

• Satellite communication equipment

• Wireless technology and networking equipment (switches, routers, firewalls)

• Local area networks (LAN), conferencing equipment, and other telecom-related hardware

Notably, MTCTE does not cover servers, laptops, desktops, or other similar computer equipment. Instead, these products are regulated by the BIS, which focuses on non-telecom IT products.

How MTCTE Certification Works

MTCTE certification requires manufacturers to submit their products for testing by a TEC-accredited laboratory. For example, here’s a certificate from D-Link:

Once certified, the product receives a Certificate of Mandatory Conformance (CMC) and can be imported into India. The certificate is valid for 10 years.

The key requirements for MTCTE certification include:

• Testing by an accredited lab: The manufacturer must submit the product for testing at a TEC-accredited laboratory.

• Certification: The product receives a CMC confirming it complies with technical standards.

• Marking the product: The certified product must display a mark with the MTCTE logo, certification number, QR code, and part number.

The CMC serves as proof of certification, and the product must display the MTCTE certification mark for customs clearance upon arrival in India. The product’s part number must match the part number listed on the CMC. Here is what it will look like, based on the official guidelines:

If your product doesn’t meet MTCTE certification requirements, your shipment may be delayed, rejected, or cost you additional fees and the need for re-shipment.

How to Check If Your Product is MTCTE Certified

Before shipping your equipment to India, verify that it has the required MTCTE certification. The TEC provides an online portal to look up certified products by their certification number. This step ensures your product complies with India’s telecom standards before it reaches customs.

Major brands like Cisco, Fortinet, and Dell are often listed among certified products. If you're purchasing networking hardware from these manufacturers, you can easily verify the product’s certification status on the TEC website.

MTCTE vs. BIS: Understanding the Difference for IT Hardware

India’s regulatory landscape for IT hardware imports can be complex, especially when distinguishing between MTCTE and BIS certifications. 

What is BIS and How Does It Relate to MTCTE?

The BIS is the national body responsible for regulating product quality and safety standards in India. It sets and enforces product quality, safety, and environmental standards across various sectors, including electronics, textiles, food, chemicals, and more. The BIS ensures that products in these industries comply with national and international standards to protect consumer health and safety. While MTCTE applies primarily to telecom-related equipment (networking hardware), BIS ensures that non-telecom products meet India’s standards for safety, quality, and performance. Here is a list of IT products governed by BIS, and a portal for each product category’s status.

When to Use BIS for Your IT Hardware Shipments

The BIS covers non-telecom equipment such as servers, laptops, desktops, amongst others. Even if your shipment includes both networking equipment (subject to MTCTE) and non-telecom products (subject to BIS), you must obtain both certifications separately. If you’re importing servers, make sure the product is BIS certified.

A device’s configuration, including whether or not it’s plugged in, can affect its regulation. For example, if you ship a power supply separately from a router, you’ll need to make sure the power supply is BIS certified and the router is MTCTE certified. If you have pre-installed the power supply into the router, and the manufacturer has confirmed the MTCTE certificate covers the whole system, then you will only need to make sure the router is MTCTE certified. Conducting a product manifest is helpful for catching important details like this.

How Does BIS Certification Work?

To import servers, laptops, or other non-telecom IT hardware into India, businesses must ensure that the products are BIS-certified. The process is similar to MTCTE, as the manufacturer must have the equipment tested by a BIS-accredited laboratory.

BIS-certified products must display a BIS mark with the certification number and Indian standard. This mark must be clearly visible on both the product and its packaging.

When importing non-telecom IT products like servers or laptops into India, a valid BIS certificate is typically sufficient for customs clearance. Here’s an example of a BIS certificate from Cisco.

However, customs authorities also closely examine the country of origin and the manufacturing location of the product. If the BIS certificate lists a different manufacturing location from the product’s actual origin, it could lead to delays or require additional documentation. Make sure the manufacturing details on the BIS certificate match the product's actual origin for smooth customs clearance. 

Obtain an Import License from DGFT

Since 2023, businesses must obtain an import license through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) online portal before importing laptops, desktops, or servers (under HS Code 8471) into India. The process involves registering and submitting a request, with approval times ranging from a few days to several months.

While India isn’t restricting imports, the DGFT requires pre-approval to track and monitor the number of units imported each year, with the license typically valid for 12 months.

There is an exemption from the restricted import license for servers if they are proven to be part of a capital good. For example, if servers are essential for operating machinery in a manufacturing process, like in an automotive assembly line, they may qualify as capital goods and be exempt from the license requirement. However, for most companies, servers used for services such as software or storage are not considered capital goods and would still require the DGFT import license.

Using a Third-Party IOR vs. Acting as Your Own IOR in India

In India, whether you act as your own Importer of Record (IOR) or use a third-party IOR service depends on your company’s needs and regulatory requirements.

When your company acts as its own IOR, it imports goods directly and handles the customs clearance process. This enables your company to take advantage of several benefits, such as expensing the imported equipment, claiming GST refunds, and depreciating assets on its Indian tax filings. Acting as your own IOR also ensures that the flow of goods and payments aligns with Indian banking regulations, which require detailed documentation for foreign remittances.

On the other hand, using a third-party IOR can benefit your company if it doesn’t need to remit funds from its Indian bank account or when the equipment is imported free of charge. In this scenario, the third-party IOR becomes the official importer, but your company loses the ability to expense the equipment or claim refunds on duties or taxes. Your company could use this model when the equipment is provided to a local service provider, such as for back-office operations, and ownership remains with the company that supplied the goods. However, this setup can complicate financial and tax processes, as the transaction is recorded as 'free of charge' for customs purposes, and the value cannot be altered.

If you work for an organization that intends to pay for and claim tax benefits on your imported goods, it’s best for your business to act as its own IOR. This approach ensures your team fully benefits from India's tax structures and avoids complications with cross-border financial transactions.

Pulling It All Together: Steps for Ensuring Your IT Shipments Comply with Indian Regulations

To ensure compliance with India’s certification and license requirements, follow these three steps:

1. For telecom equipment like routers and switches, verify that it’s MTCTE certified through the TEC portal and ensure the product has the MTCTE mark.

2. For non-telecom items like servers, laptops, or power supplies, confirm that they are BIS certified by contacting the manufacturer, and that each product displays the BIS mark.

3. If you're importing laptops, desktops, or servers under HS Code 8471, you must also obtain an import license from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) through its online portal. Lastly, ensure that all certifications and documentation are in place before shipping to avoid delays.

Key Takeaways for Importing Your IT Hardware into India

If your business is importing IT hardware into India, understanding MTCTE and BIS compliance is key to ensure smooth customs clearance and avoid costly delays. India’s MTCTE certification program ensures telecom and networking equipment meets safety and performance standards.

By verifying certifications in advance, ensuring proper labeling, and working with trusted logistics partners, businesses can streamline the import process and ensure compliance with India’s regulatory requirements.

Many multinational enterprises trust FGX to deliver seamless, best-in-class global IT shipping solutions for their infrastructure. We provide coverage to 174 countries and maintain a 99.98% customs clearance and delivery success rate even in highly regulated markets such as Brazil, India, and China. Please reach out if you’re interested in learning more.