The Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has officially released the revised TEC standard for telecom equipment defined by the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The notification has been issued in The Gazette of India dated April 16, 2026 and provides for revised essential requirement standards of SIM and IP Security Equipment. The Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025, under Rule 5, have issued these revised standards. The move is to make the quality, safety, and compliance requirements of telecom equipment stronger throughout India.
Revised Standards Notified
Included in the notification are the following revised standards:
1. TEC 40162602 – Standard for Essential Requirements SIM
New essential requirements for reliability, interoperability and security of the telecom network are part of this revised standard for telecom equipment related to SIM.
2. TEC 34732602 – Standard for Essential Requirements IP Security Equipment
This standard is for IP Security Equipment and aims for the revised technical and compliance requirements for improving the security of the network and protecting telecom infrastructure.
Transition Period of 90 Days
The notification further says that the existing standards would still be in force along with the newly revised standards simultaneously for 90 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Once this transition period is over, only the new standards will be in effect.
This transition window has been granted to facilitate a smooth transition of the products and processes of the manufacturers, importers and stakeholders to the new compliance standards.
Impact on Manufacturers and Importers
The new TEC standard is likely to have an effect on telecom equipment manufacturers, importers, testing laboratories and certification agencies. All companies involved in SIM products and IP security equipment should check the new technical specifications and make sure that their products are in accordance with the new requirements in a due period. If the revised requirements are not met upon the completion of the transition period, market access restrictions, certification problems or delays in approvals may occur.
Importance of TEC Compliance
In India, the certification of telecom equipment by the TEC is a crucial element in guaranteeing that the equipment purchased or employed meets the quality and safety standards set by the government. The new regulations are the government's wider efforts to make telecom infrastructure more secure, reliable and to better protect consumers. The government's intent with these new standards is to foster technological innovation while keeping strong enforcement in the telecom industry.
Conclusion
The notification of the revised TEC standards for SIM and IP Security Equipment is one of the important regulatory updates in the Indian telecom sector. The revised requirements should be immediately evaluated by stakeholders and a plan to comply with them should be in place prior to the end of the 90-day transition period. Manufacturers and importers are advised to coordinate with compliance experts and certification bodies to ensure smooth implementation of the revised TEC standards and avoid disruptions in business operations.
