**Summary:**
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced significant reductions, up to 95%, in security test evaluation fees under the Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec) for telecom and ICT products, effective August 1, 2025. This initiative aims to ease the compliance burden and improve the business environment for the telecom and ICT sectors, particularly for domestic manufacturers and MSMEs.
The revised fee structure drastically lowers costs, with Group A equipment fees reduced from ₹200,000 to ₹10,000, Group B from ₹200,000 to ₹20,000, Group C from ₹250,000 to ₹30,000, and Group D from ₹350,000 to ₹50,000. Government R&D institutes like CDOT and CDAC are fully exempt from these fees until March 31, 2028, to encourage innovation in public sector research.
The DoT has also simplified the security testing and compliance process for Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) and End-of-Sale/End-of-Life telecom products. While products like IP Routers, WiFi CPEs, and 5G Core SMF are subject to mandatory security testing, Optical Line Terminals and Optical Networking Terminals are subject to voluntary security certification, with fee exemptions applicable until August 31, 2025.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers, and dealers must ensure their telecom equipment undergoes security testing and certification under the ComSec scheme to sell, import, or use the equipment in India. Fees are categorized into Groups A, B, C, and D based on testing complexity. The covered equipment includes Routers, Mobile Core equipment, Base stations, Satellite Communication Equipment, Transport Equipment, Customer Premises Equipment, SIM cards etc.
This scheme falls under the broader Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) framework, superseded by the Telecommunications Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Certification Rules, 2025. Online fee payments can be made through the MTCTE portal (https://mtcte.tec.gov.in). The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), under DoT, is responsible for implementing security testing and certification under this scheme.
This fee reduction is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian telecom manufacturers, stimulate local innovation, and streamline market entry for both domestic and international OEMs, aligning with the government's goal of establishing India as a hub for telecom security testing and certification. The DoT aims to ensure the long-term security and integrity of India's telecom infrastructure by aligning testing requirements with international standards.
For further information, follow DoT handles on X (https://x.com/DoTIndia), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/departmentoftelecomigshMXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia).
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Telecommunications DoT: The government department responsible for telecommunications policy and regulation in India. It announced the reduction in security test evaluation fees.
TelecomICT sectors: Refers to the Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technology sectors in India, which are the target beneficiaries of the policy change.
Communication Security Certification Scheme ComSec: The scheme under which the revised fee structure is implemented, aimed at making security certification more affordable.
MSMEs: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, a category of businesses that are expected to benefit from the reduced fees.
CDOT: Centre for Development of Telematics, a Government RD institute that is fully exempted from security test evaluation fees.
CDAC: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, a Government RD institute that is fully exempted from security test evaluation fees.
National Centre for Communication Security NCCS: The entity under DoT mandated to implement security testing and certification under the ComSec scheme.
Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment MTCTE: The broader framework under which the ComSec scheme falls, aimed at ensuring compliance and security standards for telecom equipment.
Ministry of Communications
DoT Slashes Security Test Evaluation Fees up to
95% and Simplifies Compliance Process for
Telecom/ICT Sectors
DoT's New Fee Structure Brings Ease and
Affordability to Telecom Security Testing
Simplified Compliance Process for Highly
Specialized and End-of-Life Telecom Equipment
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 5:40PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant move to enhance ease of doing business and reduce the compliance burden on the telecom and
ICT sectors, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced a sharp reduction of up to 95%
in the security test evaluation fees for telecom and ICT products. Effective from August 01, 2025, this
revised fee structure under the Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec) is aimed at making
the security certification process more affordable for domestic manufacturers especially MSMEs.
The security test evaluation fees, previously ranging from ₹2,00,000 to ₹3,50,000 depending on the
equipment category, have now been drastically reduced. Under the revised structure, fees for Group A
equipment drop to ₹10,000 from ₹200,000, Group B to ₹20,000 from ₹200,000, Group C to ₹30,000 from
₹250,000, and Group D to ₹50,000 from ₹350,000. This will significantly reduce the financial strain on
telecom/ICT product manufacturers, including domestic players.
For Government R&D institutes, such as CDOT and CDAC, all security test evaluation fees are fully
exempted for applications submitted for product certification until March 31, 2028, as part of a wider effort to
encourage innovation in public sector research.
The DoT has also simplified the security testing and compliance process for Highly Specialized Equipment
(HSE) and End-of-Sale/End-of-Life telecom products.
Currently, products like IP Routers, Wi-Fi CPEs, and 5G Core SMF are under mandatory security testing,
while Optical Line Terminals and Optical Networking Terminals are subject to voluntary security
certification, with fee exemptions applicable until August 31, 2025.
The applicants can pay the fees online through MTCTE portal (https://mtcte.tec.gov.in).
The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), under DoT, has been mandated to implement
security testing and certification under this scheme. As per the updated framework, OEMs, importers, and
dealers who wish to sell, import, or use telecom equipment in India must ensure their products undergo
security testing and certification under the ComSec scheme.
For security testing and certification of telecom/ICT equipment under ComSec scheme,
OEMs/Importers/Dealers are charged with security test evaluation fee. This fee varies based on the group of
telecom/ICT equipment which have been categorised into A, B, C and D based on the time and complexityinvolved in testing the equipment or evaluating test reports. The list of telecom/ICT equipment includes
Routers, Mobile Core equipment, Base stations, Satellite Communication Equipment, Transport Equipment,
Customer Premises Equipment, SIM cards etc.
This scheme falls under the broader Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE)
framework, first notified in September 2017 and subsequently superseded by the Telecommunications
(Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Certification) Rules, 2025.
This fee reduction is expected to bolster the competitiveness of Indian telecom manufacturers, stimulate local
innovation, and provide a more straightforward pathway to market entry for both domestic and international
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This is in line with the government's objective to make India a
hub for telecom security testing and certification. By aligning the testing requirements with international
security standards, the DoT is working toward ensuring the long-term security and integrity of the nation's
telecom infrastructure.
Follow DoT Handles for more: -
X - https://x.com/DoT_India
Insta https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ==
Fb - https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia
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Samrat/ Allen
(Release ID: 2152187)