1 week Ago By Dhruv Raghav
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has postponed the implementation of mandatory testing for two networking equipment categories until September 1, 2025, according to a government notification. The notification, dated April 7, 2025, comes days after the US government criticised India’s telecom testing and certification requirements under the Communication Security Certification (ComSec) Scheme for being “burdensome.”In its latest notification, the DoT’s National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) has announced that Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and Optical Line Terminal (OLT) products will be “under Voluntary Security Certification (VSC)” until August 31, 2025.
During this period, the government will not levy any administrative or Security Test Evaluation fee. Starting September 1, 2025, ONT and OLT products will fall under mandatory certification and testing to comply with the Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) under the ComSec scheme.This is not the first time that the DoT has delayed the enforcement of the ComSec norms.
According to an NCCS notification dated December 6, 2024, the centre was set to enforce the mandatory testing and certification requirements under the ComSec scheme starting April 1, 2025.Did the US complaints influence DoT’s decision?Director of ComFirst India, Mahesh Uppal, told Medianama that the DoT’s decision to defer the implementation could be related to the White House’s “complaints” about the “exclusionary norms” in the Indian telecom equipment manufacturing industry. “Unless there is clear evidence of mischief or wrongdoing, or there are products present in India or outside the country that have been found to be compromised, I believe there is some reason to think that this particular approach to testing [under ComSec] is being pushed due to vested interests,” Uppal added.
The debate on India’s ComSec Scheme: Who wants it, and why?Uppal said there have also been protests regarding India’s testing and certification norms under the ComSec Scheme. “There is a very clear polarisation in the equipment market. Some people advocate for having mandatory testing, while others have argued against it,” he opined.
Major international players have already undergone a series of tests along with a standardisation process. Citing this as an example, Uppal said, “People in favour of these [stringent] norms argue that these tests and standards are sufficient. While people who argue against the scheme say that India’s security concerns are unique and hence, there should be no compromises regarding the same.
”Uppal further noted, “At the same time, India’s fledgling telecom [equipment] manufacturing industry also wants the stringent ComSec norms with the hope that it will increase the space in which it operates.”Hence, while some view the testing and certification norms under India’s ComSec scheme as a security measure, others see them as “a way of keeping the competition out.”What is the ComSec Scheme? Why did the US criticise it?The ComSec scheme covers all types of telecom equipment that are either sold in or connected to Indian telecom networks.
It mandates that every telecom equipment must undergo prior mandatory testing and security certification. However, India exempts telecom equipment imported for research and development purposes or for demonstration. The exemption applies only to a limited number of products.
According to the government, the scheme aims:To develop country-specific standards, processes and specifications.To develop a testing and certification ecosystem.To ensure Telecom network elements meet security assurancerequirements.
To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements pertaining to securitytesting.A recently published factsheet by the White House criticised India for “duplicative testing and certification requirements for telecom products,” referring to the ComSec scheme. According to the US, this has made it difficult for American companies to sell their products in India.
The US believes that if India removes “these barriers,” its exports would increase by at least $5.4 billion annually.Also read:US Trade Representative Calls India’s Frequent Internet Shutdowns A ‘Trade Barrier’US Trade Representative Claims NPCI Favours Indian Players Over Foreign Payment FirmsAI Can Improve Communication Networks and Prevent Congestion: Telecom Engineering Centre SaysThe post DoT Postpones ComSec Testing Rules After US Criticism appeared first on MEDIANAMA.
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