DoT Slashes Telecom Equipment Security Testing Fees by Up to 95 Percent

DoT Slashes Security Testing Fees by Up to 95 Percent to Boost Domestic Telecom Manufacturing
In a major push to enhance ease of doing business and reduce regulatory burdens in the telecom and ICT sectors, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced a sharp reduction—up to 95 percent—in security test evaluation fees for telecom and ICT equipment. The revised fee structure, effective August 1, 2025, falls under the Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec), a key component of the broader Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) framework, according to a Ministry of Communications announcement made on Monday, August 4, 2025.

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Focus on Supporting MSMEs

The new fee structure aims to make the security certification process significantly more affordable for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), particularly domestic manufacturers and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Under the revised structure, the fee for Group A equipment has been reduced from Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 10,000; for Group B, from Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 20,000; for Group C, from Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 30,000; and for Group D, from Rs 3,50,000 to Rs 50,000. The categorization is based on the complexity and duration of testing required for different types of equipment.

Exemptions Extended to Govt R&D Institutions

Additionally, all government R&D institutions, including CDOT and CDAC, have been granted full exemption from security test evaluation fees for applications submitted until March 31, 2028. This measure is intended to support public sector innovation and accelerate the development of indigenous telecom technologies.

Simplified Procedures for Specialized Equipment

The DoT has also introduced procedural simplifications for security testing of Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) and End-of-Sale/End-of-Life products, further easing compliance obligations. The Ministry noted that products such as IP Routers, Wi-Fi Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs), and 5G Core Session Management Functions (SMFs) are subject to mandatory testing, while Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Optical Networking Terminals (ONTs) remain under voluntary certification, with fee exemptions valid through August 31, 2025.