New testing rules to hamper 5G roll-out, say telecom gear makers

Telecom equipment makers and mobile operators are pushing for an exemption from the contentious mandatory testing and certification of all key network equipment as per the new rules that are slated to kick in from July 1. They have told the government that these requirements will lead to a serious disruption in the supply chain for building 4G and the upcoming 5G networks and could jeopardise the latter’s launch expected to take place by the end of this year.  

The equipment manufacturers are demanding that the exemption from the rules given to mobile devices, smart watches, servers, smart cameras and POS machines by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) late last month should also be extended to them. Some have even suggested a six-month extension of the deadline, pending a final decision on the rules, so that companies can procure equipment and don’t face supply chain disruptions.

The Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) believes that mandatory testing rules have lost their relevance and, hence, should not be imposed on telecom gear makers. “The government is committed to removing archaic regulations. We feel that the time has come to see if mandatory testing and certification has lost relevance and should be removed, especially after the announcement of the trusted product policy, which covers all telecom products procured by TSPs (telecom service providers). For any other left over items, it can be brought under the ambit of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) just like the five exempted products,” says N K Goyal chairman, TEMA.

Telecom equipment makers are also peeved that the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) has enlarged its scope of work by demanding country of origin details as well as MOUs between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the applicant and other confidential information which has no relation with product regulatory compliance.         

Under the new mandatory testing and certification rules, equipment like microwave, radios, routers, and so on, which can be used for both 4G and 5G networks cannot be imported or sold without being tested by earmarked third party labs and then certified by the TEC on parameters of safety, emission and other technical norms. However, with labs are still not equipped to handle such testing, and given that their numbers are small, telcos fear that orders to buy or import network equipment will either come to a standstill or get delayed by 6-12 months.

There have been hectic discussions between stakeholders over the last few days and a committee has been set up by the department of telecommunication (DoT) to look into reforms in the testing and certification rules.  

The matter came to a head after DoT, in a consultation with MEITY, in an order on April 27, exempted mobile handsets, smart watches, smart camera, servers, amongst others, from the mandatory testing and certification rules. The companies in this space had protested that their products are already being certified by the BIS on the same parameters.

Telecom companies say that operators prefer to use radios, base stations and other products which work seamlessly for both 4G and 5G networks. Says a senior telco executive: “Now these products will also come under the July deadline. As labs are not equipped to handle them or can do so after huge delays, it might take  6-12 months before we get a certification and then apply for permission to import. With the chip and component shortage in the world due to the closure of factories in China and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, products earmarked for India will be sent to other markets. This will surely have an impact on the 5G rollout.”