Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) division of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued notifications aimed at simplifying import and related approval processes for wireless equipment, operating in the license exempted bands.
WPC has exempted the need for obtaining equipment type approval for tests, prototype, samples, pre-launch units of wireless equipment operating in the license exempted band in India.
This category includes mobile phones, laptops, electronic notepads, smart watches, short range devices and accessories, microphones, speakers, headphones, earphones, printers, scanners, cameras, testing and measurement equipment, etc.
A self-declaration from importer or any authorised Indian representative will be enough as evidence to process such clearances by the Customs and Central Excise Authorities, permitting one thousand number of units per model.
The other notification states that Equipment Type Approval (ETA) can be availed of through a self-declaration. This would be permitted for all commercial and finished products such as mobile phones or computing devices operating in license exempt bands, as allowed in India.
Rajan Mathews, director general of COAI, said: “This decision will facilitate a hassle free import process of sample devices for various testing and R&D purposes. This will also help equipment manufacturers in timely launching of their new products in India.”
COAI hopes that such reforms would continue and issues surrounding import of equipment would be resolved with scrapping of import license currently required for import of telecom equipment by licensed operators.
COAI represents all the major Indian telecoms and telecom equipment, services and device manufacturers such as Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, Apple, IBM, Sterlite, Ciena, ATC, among others.
