India’s ambitious digital transformation depends on a robust, self-reliant telecom ecosystem. At the heart of this mission are thousands of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) building indigenous telecom products and solutions. But for these companies, one major hurdle remains: the high cost of testing and certification.
To ensure Indian telecom products meet national and international quality standards, certification from bodies like the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) is essential. Yet for small companies and startups, these costs can be prohibitive—slowing down innovation, market entry, and growth.
Recognizing this challenge, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, launched the “Scheme for Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Startups and Telecom MSMEs.” The scheme is administered by Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India.
Under this initiative:
✅ Eligible MSMEs and Startups can claim reimbursement of up to 50–75% of the cost of testing and certification.
✅ Testing must be conducted in TEC-designated Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).
✅ The scheme covers a wide range of telecom products—from core network equipment to IoT devices, helping them achieve TEC certification.
Testing and certification are not just regulatory hurdles—they’re essential to ensure the safety, interoperability, and quality of telecom products in India’s critical communication infrastructure. By reimbursing these costs, the government empowers smaller players to:
✔️ Compete on a level playing field with large corporations.
✔️ Access domestic and global markets with certified, high-quality products.
✔️ Build a trusted, self-reliant Indian telecom manufacturing sector.
As the implementing partner of the scheme, TCOE India:
This commitment aligns with TCOE India’s broader mission to strengthen India’s telecom ecosystem through collaboration, capacity building, and innovation support.
The Scheme for Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges is a vital enabler for the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in the telecom sector. By lowering barriers to certification, the scheme boosts local manufacturing, encourages technological innovation, and helps India reduce dependency on imported telecom equipment.
It ensures that MSMEs and startups—the backbone of India’s economy—can bring cutting-edge, secure, and certified telecom solutions to market faster and more affordably.
Interested MSMEs and startups can visit the TEC website to check eligibility criteria, guidelines, and the online application portal.
Together, let’s build a stronger, self-reliant, and innovation-driven telecom industry for India.
Copyright ©TCOE India 2023
