Published: 8 Sep 2026
India Notifies New TEC Standards for IoT Gateways, Fixed Wireless Equipment and Underground Telecom Cables
Published: 8 September 2026
Regulatory Update | S.O. 4360(E), dated 3 August 2026 | Three New TEC Standards Notified
India has notified three new technical standards for telecommunications equipment covering IoT Gateways, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Customer Premises Equipment, and Underground Telecom Cables.
The standards have been notified by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications. The notification was issued as S.O. 4360(E), dated 3 August 2026, and the standards take effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, which was 6 August 2026.
The notification expands India’s technical standards framework across both emerging telecommunications technologies and essential physical network infrastructure.
Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Authority | Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) |
| Department | Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications |
| Notification | S.O. 4360(E) |
| Notification Date | 3 August 2026 |
| Gazette Publication | 6 August 2026 |
| Effective Date | Date of Gazette publication |
| Standards Notified | 3 |
| Legal Basis | Section 19, Telecommunications Act, 2023 read with Rule 5 of the 2025 Rules |
| MTCTE Relevance | Applicable conformity requirements to be assessed based on the notified standards and applicable certification framework |
What Standards Has TEC Notified?
The latest notification introduces three standards:
1. TEC 33011:2026 – Test Guide for IoT Gateway
The first standard is TEC 33011:2026 – Test Guide for IoT Gateway.
An IoT gateway acts as an interface between Internet-of-Things sensors or devices and wider communication networks. As connected devices become increasingly integrated into industrial and commercial environments, gateways play an important role in transferring, managing and communicating data between IoT devices and network infrastructure.
The newly notified TEC test guide establishes the testing methodology applicable to IoT gateway equipment.
This development is particularly relevant to manufacturers and importers supplying IoT gateway products for applications involving connected devices, smart metering, industrial monitoring and other IoT deployments.
2. TEC 21141:2026 – Test Guide for Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment
The second standard is TEC 21141:2026 – Test Guide for Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment.
The standard provides a test methodology for FWA Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and complements the FWA Generic Requirements notified earlier on 17 July 2026.
The notification is therefore significant for manufacturers and suppliers of FWA equipment because the technical compliance framework now includes a dedicated CPE test guide alongside the previously notified generic requirements.
For businesses involved in fixed wireless broadband equipment, both documents should be reviewed together when assessing applicable technical and conformity requirements.
3. TEC 68090:2026 – Generic Requirements for Underground Telecom Cables
The third standard is TEC 68090:2026 – Generic Requirements for Solid Polythene Insulated, Fully Jelly Filled, Polythene Sheathed Underground Telecom Cables.
The standard establishes requirements for the specified construction of underground telecommunications cables used as part of physical telecom network infrastructure.
Unlike the first two standards, which focus on newer telecommunications equipment categories, this standard addresses a fundamental physical-layer component used in telecom network deployment.
Why Is This Notification Important?
The latest TEC notification reflects the continuing expansion of India’s telecommunications standards and conformity-assessment framework.
The three standards cover two distinct areas:
Emerging technology
- IoT Gateway equipment
- Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment
Core telecom infrastructure
- Underground telecommunications cables
This combination demonstrates TEC’s continued development of technical requirements across both newer digital technologies and the physical infrastructure supporting telecom networks.
For manufacturers and importers, the notification is important because products falling within the applicable scope of these standards need to be assessed against the relevant technical requirements and certification framework.
Impact on MTCTE Compliance
The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunications Equipment (MTCTE) framework requires applicable telecommunications equipment to comply with notified technical standards and undergo the prescribed conformity assessment process.
With these standards now notified, manufacturers and importers of relevant products should assess whether their equipment falls within the applicable certification requirements.
The regulatory update identifies the following categories as particularly relevant:
- IoT gateway manufacturers and importers;
- FWA CPE manufacturers and suppliers;
- Manufacturers of specified underground telecom cables;
- Testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies; and
- Telecom network operators and infrastructure providers sourcing covered equipment and cabling.
Important Compliance Point
The notification itself states that the standards take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. There is no separate transition period specified in this notification.
Businesses should therefore avoid assuming that the notification creates an automatic grace period for adapting products or technical documentation.
At the same time, companies should separately verify the applicable MTCTE product certification notifications and implementation requirements for their specific equipment before placing products on the Indian market.
IoT Gateway Manufacturers and Importers: What Should They Do?
Businesses dealing with IoT gateways should:
- Identify whether their product falls within the scope of TEC 33011:2026.
- Review the applicable testing methodology.
- Assess existing technical documentation and test reports against the new requirements.
- Determine the applicable MTCTE certification pathway.
- Coordinate with an appropriate testing and certification body where required.
- Review future product imports and launches for conformity implications.
The new test guide provides a defined technical reference point for conformity assessment of IoT gateway equipment.
FWA Equipment Suppliers: Review Both TEC Standards
FWA equipment manufacturers and importers should pay particular attention to the relationship between:
- TEC 21141:2026 – Test Guide for Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment, and
- The FWA Generic Requirements notified on 17 July 2026.
TEC identifies the new CPE test guide as a companion methodology to the earlier FWA generic requirements.
Accordingly, businesses should not review the new test guide in isolation. Both requirements should be considered when determining the technical compliance strategy for FWA CPE.
Underground Telecom Cable Manufacturers: Scope Assessment Is Critical
Manufacturers and suppliers of underground telecom cables should verify the construction of their products against the specific description covered by TEC 68090:2026.
The notified standard specifically refers to:
Solid Polythene Insulated, Fully Jelly Filled, Polythene Sheathed Underground Telecom Cables.
Companies supplying different cable constructions should therefore conduct a product-by-product scope assessment rather than assuming that every underground telecom cable is automatically covered by this standard.
Effective Date of the New TEC Standards
The notification was issued on 3 August 2026 and subsequently published in the Gazette of India on 6 August 2026.
The three standards became effective from the date of Gazette publication.
Timeline
3 August 2026
TEC notification issued as S.O. 4360(E).
6 August 2026
Notification published in the Gazette of India.
6 August 2026 onwards
The three notified standards take effect from Gazette publication.
Legal Basis for the Notification
The standards have been notified under Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, read with Rule 5 of the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025.
The notification was issued under F. No. 24-01/2025-STD/TEC and signed by Rajeev Kumar Tyagi, Deputy Director General, TEC.
Business Impact for Manufacturers and Importers
For Manufacturers
Manufacturers should review their product specifications and technical documentation against the relevant TEC standard and identify any testing or certification requirements that need to be addressed.
For Importers
Importers should verify whether products sourced from overseas manufacturers fall within the applicable scope and whether the required MTCTE conformity assessment has been completed or needs to be initiated.
For Testing Laboratories
Testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies may need to update their applicable scopes and processes to accommodate the newly notified standards.
For Telecom Infrastructure Providers
Network operators and infrastructure companies sourcing covered equipment or underground telecom cables should consider the applicable conformity requirements when evaluating suppliers and products.
Recommended Compliance Actions
Businesses dealing with IoT gateways, FWA CPE or specified underground telecom cables should consider the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the product category
Determine whether the product is an IoT Gateway, FWA CPE or specified underground telecom cable.
Step 2: Conduct a scope assessment
Map the product’s technical specifications against the applicable TEC standard.
Step 3: Review testing requirements
Identify the tests, technical documentation and supporting evidence required for conformity assessment.
Step 4: Check MTCTE applicability
Verify the current MTCTE certification requirements applicable to the specific product.
Step 5: Review existing certifications and reports
Assess whether existing test reports or certifications can support the Indian conformity assessment process.
Step 6: Plan certification before import or market placement
Manufacturers and importers should incorporate the new standards into their Indian regulatory compliance planning.
What Does This Mean for the Indian Telecom Industry?
The notification represents another step in the development of India’s telecom technical standards framework.
By introducing dedicated testing requirements for IoT gateways and FWA CPE, TEC is establishing clearer technical references for emerging connectivity technologies.
At the same time, the introduction of generic requirements for specified underground telecom cables strengthens the standards framework for the physical infrastructure needed to support telecom network expansion.
Together, the three standards broaden the technical coverage of India’s telecom conformity framework across devices, access equipment and network infrastructure.
How Omega QMS Can Help
Omega QMS assists manufacturers, importers and international businesses with India’s telecom regulatory and certification requirements, including MTCTE compliance, TEC standards, conformity assessment and related import requirements.
Our support can include:
- Product scope assessment;
- TEC standard applicability review;
- MTCTE certification guidance;
- Technical documentation review;
- Test report assessment;
- Coordination for conformity assessment;
- Regulatory compliance support for imported telecom equipment; and
- Ongoing monitoring of TEC and DoT regulatory developments.
If your IoT gateway, FWA equipment or underground telecom cable is intended for the Indian market, an early regulatory assessment can help identify applicable requirements before certification or import activities begin.
Conclusion
India has notified three new TEC standards covering IoT Gateways, Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment, and specified Underground Telecom Cables.
The notified standards are:
- TEC 33011:2026 – Test Guide for IoT Gateway
- TEC 21141:2026 – Test Guide for Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment
- TEC 68090:2026 – Generic Requirements for Solid Polythene Insulated, Fully Jelly Filled, Polythene Sheathed Underground Telecom Cables
The standards were notified through S.O. 4360(E), dated 3 August 2026, and became effective from their publication in the Gazette of India on 6 August 2026.
For manufacturers and importers, the immediate priority should be to assess product scope, review the applicable technical requirements and determine the relevant MTCTE conformity assessment pathway.
As India’s telecom regulatory framework continues to expand, businesses should monitor new TEC standards and certification requirements closely to ensure that products intended for the Indian market remain compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the three new TEC standards notified in August 2026?
The three standards are TEC 33011:2026 for IoT Gateways, TEC 21141:2026 for FWA Customer Premises Equipment, and TEC 68090:2026 for specified underground telecom cables.
2. When did the new TEC standards become effective?
The standards became effective from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The Gazette publication was dated 6 August 2026.
3. What is TEC 33011:2026?
TEC 33011:2026 is the Test Guide for IoT Gateway, establishing the testing methodology for the covered IoT gateway equipment.
4. What is TEC 21141:2026?
TEC 21141:2026 is the Test Guide for Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment and complements the FWA generic requirements notified on 17 July 2026.
5. What does TEC 68090:2026 cover?
TEC 68090:2026 covers Solid Polythene Insulated, Fully Jelly Filled, Polythene Sheathed Underground Telecom Cables.
6. Are these standards relevant to MTCTE?
Yes. Manufacturers and importers should assess the applicability of the newly notified standards within the MTCTE conformity assessment framework and verify the certification requirements applicable to their specific products.
7. Is there a transition period under this notification?
The notification states that the standards take effect from Gazette publication and does not provide a separate transition period. Businesses should therefore review the applicable requirements promptly.
Official Reference
Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India
Notification: S.O. 4360(E)
F. No.: 24-01/2025-STD/TEC
Date: 3 August 2026
Gazette Publication: 6 August 2026
Signed by: Rajeev Kumar Tyagi, Deputy Director General, TEC
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general regulatory and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.