The document issued by the Indian Government's Department of Telecommunications, specifically by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), addresses exemptions and requirements related to certain parameters of PON Broadband Equipment under the MTCTE (Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment) scheme.

This document includes two communications dated January 1, 2025, and June 26, 2025, respectively.

The first communication, dated January 1, 2025, establishes that:

1. Protocol testing for any PON interface: Submission of test reports is waived until June 30, 2025.

2. Automatic Laser Off (ALS) or Automatic Power Off (APSD): Self-declaration of conformity by the applicant or manufacturer (OEM) is permitted until June 30, 2025.

3. Interoperability testing for GPON: Applicants are permitted to upload test reports conducted in NABL-accredited laboratories or in the manufacturer's internal laboratories. This requirement includes submission of results for all sub parameters of the GPON interoperability test as per Annex-J5/Appendix-III of the "Annex to ER." In addition, an interoperability commitment is required. This relaxation is valid until June 30, 2025.

In the second communication, dated June 26, 2025, the previously mentioned exemptions and requirements are updated:

1. Protocol testing for any PON interface: The exemption for submitting test reports is extended until December 31, 2025.

2. Automatic Laser Shutdown (ALS) or Automatic Power Shutdown (APSD): Acceptance of the self-declaration of conformity by the applicant or manufacturer (OEM) is maintained until December 31, 2025.

WHOM DOES IT IMPACT?

The direct impact is on Manufacturers and Applicants (OEMs) of PON broadband equipment, testing laboratories and certification bodies, and importers or marketers of these devices.

CONCLUSION:

This measure has a medium impact because it provides relevant regulatory relief, but it is temporary and limited to specific parameters within a specific category of telecommunications equipment.