Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC)
What is WPC Certification?
Wing of the Ministry of Communications, is the National Radio Regulatory Authority responsible for Frequency Spectrum Management, including licensing and caters for the needs of all wireless users (Government and Private) in the country. It exercises the statutory functions of the Central Government and issues licenses to establish, maintain and operate wireless stations. WPC is divided into major sections like Licensing and Regulation (LR), New Technology Group (NTG) and Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA). SACFA makes the recommendations on major frequency allocation issues, formulation of the frequency allocation plan.
What Approvals are required?
Equipment Type Approval ETA/ETA-SD for Unlicensed bands:- Licenses can be obtained for equipment operating in the licensed bands. Some of the licenses are Experimental License, UL, VNO Products which require license for importing as per Import Policy – Radio Broadcast Transmitter, TV broadcast Transmitter, Marine radio communication equipment, satellite communication equipment, Radio Apparatus, Direction measuring equipment, Direction finding equipment, Non directional beacon
Equipment Type Approval (ETA) required for products with Radios used in unlicensed bands
There are 2 types of ETAs. Self-Declaration ETAs and non-Self-Declared ETAs. Wireless equipment’s exempted from licensing is listed in NFAP-Annexure 1 Oct 2018 (National Frequency Allocation Plan)
Self-Declared ETAs (ETA-SD)
ETA-SDs are for certain categories of wireless equipment operating in license exempt bands with low transmission power and are exempted from import licensing requirement as per the EXIM policy of DGFT ETA through self-declaration is permitted for commercial / finished products such as mobile / computing devices viz as mobile handsets, smart phones, electronic notepads, laptops, Smartwatches, Short Range Devices including accessories, microphones, speakers , headphones, earphones, printers, scanners, cameras etc., operating in licensed exemption bands as permitted in India. A self-declaration from importer / authorised Indian representative may be treated as sufficient evidence to process such clearances by the Customs and Central Excise Authorities.
Documents Required for ETAs
- Technical specification/Datasheet
- Product User Guide
- Radio Test reports endorsed by any 17025 accredited Test Lab
- Authorization letter from Manufacturer
- Local Representative Agreement Letter
- Application Form validation
Examples of Frequency bands covered under ETAs. Non-Self-Declared ETAs
For products that are not exempted from import licensing requirement as per the policy of DGFT, hard copy applications with all documents (same as ETA-SD) must be submitted to a regional WPC office to obtain the Equipment Type-Approval.
Why WPC Approval is required?
WPC ETA is required for importing any Radio equipment into India, including walkie-talkie, RC cars/boats, drones/UAV, ZigBee, WiFi, Bluetooth devices, RFID, NFC, Wireless Chargers, etc. Imports of radio equipment into India, without WPC Approval will be confiscated by Customs at point of entry.