What’s New in the MTCTE Update on Acceptance of ILAC Test Reports

In continuation of its earlier notification dated 26 June 2025, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) has clarified that test reports issued by laboratories accredited by ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) signatories will continue to be accepted under the MTCTE framework. This acceptance is subject to specific conditions and is intended to support a more streamlined and efficient certification process.

The acceptance of ILAC-accredited test reports is limited to reports originating from non-border-sharing countries and is time-bound in nature. It applies only to selected telecom products and defined parameters under MTCTE, ensuring that regulatory control and technical oversight are maintained. OEMs must ensure that all eligibility conditions are met before relying on such reports for certification.

This measure helps OEMs avoid unnecessary repeat testing, resulting in significant savings in time and resources. At the same time, by recognising credible and internationally accepted test reports, TEC reinforces compliance with MTCTE requirements while promoting efficiency and faster deployment of telecom equipment without compromising regulatory standards.

Products Covered Under ILAC Test Report Acceptance

The acceptance of test reports issued by ILAC-accredited laboratories is applicable to the following telecom equipment categories notified under the MTCTE framework:

• Base Station for Cellular Network

  Applicable variants include:

  • Active Antenna System (OTA)
  • Hybrid Active Antenna System
  • Base Station 5G NR Type 1-O
  • Base Station 5G NR Type 2-O
  • Base Station 5G NR Type 1-H
  • BTS for GSM
• SIM
  • All variants
• VHF / UHF Radio Equipment System
  • All variants
• E-band Fixed Radio Relay Systems
  • All variants

Note: Only the specific technical parameters notified under MTCTE are covered under this acceptance. All other testing and compliance requirements remain unchanged.

Acceptance Requirements under MTCTE

Under the MTCTE framework, test reports from ILAC-accredited laboratories are accepted only when specific conditions are met. The report must be issued by a laboratory accredited by an ILAC signatory body and the laboratory must be authorised to use the ILAC MRA Mark. In addition, the test report must originate from a non-border sharing country and should not be older than two years from the date of submission on the MTCTE portal.

If any of these requirements are not fulfilled, the test report may be rejected during evaluation. By enforcing these conditions, TEC ensures that only valid, recent, and internationally recognised test results are accepted, thereby maintaining transparency, credibility, and regulatory compliance within the MTCTE certification process.

Test reports are accepted under MTCTE only if all specified conditions are met:

• The report must be issued by a laboratory accredited by an ILAC signatory body.
• The laboratory must be authorised to use the ILAC MRA Mark.
• The test report must originate from a non-border sharing country.
• The report must be no older than two years from the date of submission on the MTCTE portal.
• Failure to meet any of these conditions may lead to rejection of the test report.
• These requirements ensure validity, transparency, and regulatory compliance in the MTCTE certification process.

Importance of ILAC Test Report Acceptance in MTCTE Certification

The latest MTCTE update from TEC is a significant step toward simplifying telecom equipment certification in India. By allowing the use of ILAC-accredited laboratory test reports, it reduces dependency on repeat testing within India, saving both time and costs for OEMs.

What OEMs Must Follow

Under the latest MTCTE update issued by TEC, OEMs intending to use ILAC-accredited test reports must ensure strict compliance with the prescribed conditions while applying for certification on the MTCTE portal. The acceptance of ILAC test reports is provided as a temporary relaxation up to 30 June 2026 and does not exempt OEMs from fulfilling other mandatory MTCTE requirements. OEMs are responsible for verifying the validity, origin, and applicability of the test reports and must ensure complete and accurate submission to avoid application rejection or delays.

OEMs must ensure the following:

• Submit ILAC-accredited test reports

  Issued by ILAC signatory laboratories authorized to use the ILAC MRA mark.

• Ensure country eligibility

  Test reports must originate only from non-border-sharing countries.

• Check report validity period

  Reports must not be older than two years at the time of MTCTE portal submission.

• Use reports only for permitted products

  ILAC test reports must be applied strictly to notified equipment categories approved by TEC.

• Fulfil all other MTCTE requirements

  Documentation, declarations, and procedural compliance must still be completed as per MTCTE rules.

• Track exemption validity timeline

  ILAC report acceptance is valid only up to 30 June 2026 unless further extended by TEC.