**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Communications on July 17, 2026, and published on July 20, 2026, establishes eight new standards for telecommunication equipment under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. These standards include specific Test Guides and Generic Requirements for 5G infrastructure, optical fiber tools, and wireless access equipment. The provisions become effective immediately from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**5G Core Infrastructure**
* **5G Dual Core (TEC 21131:2026):** Establishes the official Test Guide for dual-core 5G systems.
* **Small Size 5G Core (TEC 21121:2026):** Provides the designated Test Guide for small-scale 5G core implementations.
**Optical Fiber and Network Maintenance**
* **Route Tracers for Armoured Cable:** Sets new requirements and guides for Route Tracers used with armoured optical fibre cables (TEC 88311:2026 Test Guide and TEC 88310:2025 Generic Requirements).
* **FTTH Testing (TEC 88320:2026):** Defines generic requirements for Passive Optical Network (PON) Optical Time Domain Reflectometers specifically for Fiber-to-the-Home applications.
**Wireless Access and Interworking**
* **Customer Premises Equipment (TEC 21140:2026):** Outlines generic requirements for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) customer equipment.
* **Wi-Fi Offloading (TEC 38060:2026):** Details the requirements for WLAN interworking and associated Wi-Fi offloading within 4G or 5G systems.
**Specialized Components**
* **SPAD Detectors (TEC 91030:2026):** Establishes the generic requirements for Single Photon Avalanche Diode detectors.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecommunication Equipment Manufacturers**
**Impact**
Manufacturers of 5G cores, optical fiber tools, and wireless premises equipment are now subject to updated technical benchmarks and testing protocols.
**Action Required**
Review product specifications to ensure hardware and software align with the 2025 and 2026 TEC Generic Requirements and Test Guides.
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
**Impact**
The standards affect how TSPs deploy 5G cores, manage 4G/5G Wi-Fi offloading, and maintain optical fiber networks.
**Action Required**
Ensure that all new equipment procured for network expansion or maintenance, particularly for FTTH and Fixed Wireless Access, is compliant with the notified standards.
**Testing and Certification Bodies**
**Impact**
These organizations must update their compliance frameworks to include the newly notified Test Guides.
**Action Required**
Update laboratory testing procedures and certification checklists to incorporate the specific requirements of the eight newly listed TEC standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecommunications Act, 2023: The primary legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers, specifically Section 19, to notify standards for telecommunication equipment.
Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC): The technical body whose specific standards, including Test Guides and Generic Requirements for 5G and optical fiber equipment, are being officially notified.
Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025: The specific regulatory framework used in conjunction with the Telecommunications Act to facilitate the notification of equipment standards.
Department of Telecommunications: The primary government department responsible for overseeing the notification and implementation of technical standards for the telecom sector.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-20072026-274646
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D0H0x7x2x0 26-274646
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3790] नई ददल्ली, सोमिार, िलु ाई 20, 2026/आषाढ 29, 1948 25/आषाढ़ 3, 1947
No. 3790] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026/ASHADHA 29, 1948 SHADHA 3, 1947
सचं ार मत्रं ालय
(दरू सचं ार जिभाग)
(दरू सचं ार अजभयांजत्रकी केंद्र)
अजधसचू ना
नई ददल्ली] 17 िुलाई, 2026
का.आ. 3958(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, दरू संचार (मानक, अनुरूपता जनधारा ण और प्रमाणन को अजधसूजचत करन े
की रूपरेखा) जनयम, 2025 के जनयम 5 के साथ पठित दरू सचं ार अजधजनयम, 2023 (2023 का 44) की धारा 19 द्वारा
प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, रािपत्र म ें इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख़ स,े दरू संचार उपस्ट्कर के जलए
जनम्नजलजखत मानकों को अजधसजू चत करती ह,ै अथाता :-
क्र. स.ं मानकों की सख्ं या और नाम
(1) (2)
टी ई सी 21131:2026 परीक्षण जनदेजिका
1.
5िी डुअल कोर
टी ई सी 21121:2026 परीक्षण जनदेजिका
2.
छोटेआकार का 5िी कोर
5505 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
टी ई सी 88311:2026 परीक्षण जनदेजिका
3.
आमाड ाऑजटटकल फाइबर केबल के जलए रूट रेसर
टी ई सी 21140:2026 िगीय अपेक्षाएँ
4.
दफक्सस्ट्ड िायरलेस एक्ससेस ग्राहक पठरसर उपकरण
टी ई सी 38060:2026 िगीय अपेक्षाएँ
5.
4िी अथिा 5िी प्रणाजलयों में डब्लल्यूएलएएन अतं रकायािीलता तथा संबंजधत िाई-फाई ऑफलोडडग
टी ई सी 88310:2025 िगीय अपेक्षाएँ
6.
आमाड ाऑजटटकल फाइबर केबल के जलए रूट रेसर
टी ई सी 91030:2026 िगीय अपेक्षाएँ
7.
डसगल फोटॉन एिलांच डायोड (एसपीएडी) जडटेक्सटर
टी ई सी 88320:2026 िगीय अपेक्षाएँ
8.
पैजसि ऑजटटकल नेटिका ऑजटटकल टाइम डोमेन ठरफ्लेक्सटोमीटर (एफटीटीएच एजटलकेिन के जलए)
[फा.सं – 24‑01/2025‑एसटीडी/टीईसी‑भाग (1)]
रािीि कुमार त्यागी, उप महाजनदेिक[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
(Department Of Telecommunications)
(TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING CENTRE)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 17th July, 2026
S.O. 3958(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023
(44 of 2023) read with rule 5 of the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment
and Certification) Rules, 2025, the Central Government hereby notifies the following standards for telecommunication
equipment with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, namely: —
Sl. No. Number and name of standards
(1) (2)
TEC 21131:2026 Test Guide
1.
5G Dual Core
TEC 21121:2026 Test Guide
2.
Small size 5G Core
TEC 88311:2026 Test Guide
3.
Route Tracer for Armoured Optical Fibre Cable
TEC 21140:2026 Generic Requirements
4.
Fixed Wireless Access Customer Premises Equipment
TEC 38060:2026 Generic Requirements
5.
WLAN Interworking and associated Wi-Fi Offloading in 4G or 5G systems
TEC 88310:2025 Generic Requirements
6.
Route Tracer for Armoured Optical Fibre Cable
TEC 91030:2026 Generic Requirements
7.
Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Detector
TEC 88320:2026 Generic Requirements
8.
Passive Optical Network Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (For FTTH Applications)
[F. No. 24-01/2025-STD/TEC-Part(1)]
RAJEEV KUMAR TYAGI, Deputy Director General
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.