TEC Notifies Three Telecom Test Guides in 2026 Under S.O. 5179(E)

Three completely unrelated telecom products fall under the latest TEC standard notification that was issued in September 2026. The first concerns solar power supply for wireless telecom terminals, including Wi-Fi and similar technology the second pertains to IPS, while the third is related to PON Optical Time Domain Reflectometers used for FTTH.

S.O. 5179(E) has been released by the Ministry of Communications via the Department of Telecommunications and the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC). The date of the latest standard notification is 18 September 2026, and that of the Gazette release containing it is 21 September 2026.

The three notified documents are TEC 66101:2026, TEC 49141:2026 and TEC 88321:2026. All three are described specifically as Test Guides. That wording matters. A test guide is a technical document used in evaluation and testing it should not automatically be treated as a standalone order, making fresh certification compulsory for every product that looks similar to the title. 

So, for manufacturers, importers, testing laboratories, and telecommunication compliance officers, the relevant question is no longer, “Has TEC come up with a new test standard?” Instead, the question that should be asked is, “Is this test applicable for this particular device, and which test or certification process applies for this product under TEC guidelines?”

TEC Notification 2026 at a Glance

The Government has used Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 together with Rule 5 of the 2025 framework rules to notify these standards. The Gazette expressly ties their commencement to publication of the notification in the Official Gazette. 

What Has Actually Changed Through S.O. 5179(E)?

The change is fairly focused.

TEC has not issued an entirely new telecom certification scheme through this two-page notification. It has formally notified three identified test guides as standards for telecommunication equipment.

The notified documents are:

• TEC 66101:2026 - Test Guide for Solar Photovoltaic-Based Standalone/Hybrid Power Supply for Wi-Fi Terminals & Other Similar Telecom Terminals. 
• TEC 49141:2026 - Test Guide for Intrusion Prevention System. 
• TEC 88321:2026 -Test Guide for Passive Optical Network Optical Time Domain Reflectometer for FTTH Applications. 

That is the legal development created by this particular Gazette.

What the Gazette does not do is equally important. It does not contain the full technical test parameters, product-wise certification process, fee schedule, application documents, validity period, or transition arrangements.

Those details, where applicable, have to come from the relevant TEC standard, Generic Requirement, Essential Requirement, conformity-assessment measure, or certification procedure.

Legal Basis of the New TEC Test Guides

Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023

S.O. 5179(E) expressly states that it has been issued by exercising powers under Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. 

The 2025 standards and conformity-assessment framework now sits behind TEC's work on telecom standards, testing and certification. TEC describes itself as the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications responsible for standards and specifications for telecom equipment and networks. Its current procedures also recognise that telecom products may be tested and certified against relevant TEC documents. 

For a business, the practical meaning is simple: a technical standard cannot be looked at in isolation. The product, the applicable standard, the test reference and the certification route—where one applies need to be matched correctly.

Rule 5 of the 2025 Rules

The Gazette also specifically refers to Rule 5 of the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025. 

TEC has been using Rule 5 for stakeholder consultation before finalisation of standards. Official consultation documents issued under Rule 5(2), for example, invite manufacturers and other stakeholders to comment on draft standards before they move forward. 

The three test guides covered by S.O. 5179(E) also passed through TEC's consultation process during 2026.

Before the Gazette: The Three Test Guides Were Put Out for Comments

The September notification was not the first time these documents appeared publicly.

TEC's official consultation records show:

These records show that TEC invited stakeholder input before the documents reached their notified stage. 

For manufacturers that participated in or followed these consultations, S.O. 5179(E) is therefore the next regulatory stage rather than a completely unexpected technical document.

Which Three TEC Test Guides Have Been Notified?

The three guides should not be grouped simply because they appear in one Gazette. Their technical purposes are entirely different.

A solar-based telecom power unit, a network-security appliance and an optical-fibre test instrument will naturally require different product reviews.

TEC 66101:2026- Test Guide for SPV-Based Telecom Power Supply

The first notified document is TEC 66101:2026.

Its full title is:

Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Based Standalone/Hybrid Power Supply for Wi-Fi Terminals & Other Similar Telecom Terminals. 

What type of equipment does this relate to?

The title points to power-supply systems used with Wi-Fi terminals and other similar telecom terminals.

“SPV” means Solar Photovoltaic. In practical terms, this category deals with telecom power arrangements using solar photovoltaic energy, either on a standalone basis or as part of a hybrid arrangement.

The test guide should not be confused with a general solar-product standard. The subject is narrower: it is linked with power supply for Wi-Fi and comparable telecom terminals.

There is also a related Generic Requirement.

TEC's official list of Gazette-notified standards shows that TEC 66100:2026, the Generic Requirement for Solar Photovoltaic-Based Standalone or Hybrid Power Supply for Wi-Fi Terminals and Other Similar Telecom Terminals, had already been notified on 11 June 2026. 

This relationship is useful:

Manufacturers should therefore avoid reading the September Gazette in isolation. The underlying GR and the final test guide need to be reviewed together where they apply.

What the Gazette does not tell us

S.O. 5179(E) does not reproduce technical values for:

• power output 
• solar module configuration 
• battery arrangement 
• electrical protection 
• environmental performance 
• efficiency 
• test conditions 
• pass/fail criteria. 

Those values should be taken from the applicable TEC documents, not created from the short Gazette notification.

TEC 49141:2026- Test Guide for Intrusion Prevention System

The second document is TEC 49141:2026, covering an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). 

An IPS is used in network security. Its purpose is broadly to monitor network traffic and respond to activity identified as harmful or unauthorised.

TEC already maintains TEC 49140:2025 as the Generic Requirement for Intrusion Prevention System. Its standards database identifies GR and lists it in the IT category. 

The GR itself explains that an IPS is used to protect a service provider's IT infrastructure and can monitor network traffic for external attacks, internal attacks, and network misuse. 

Why TEC 49141:2026 matters

The Gazette now formally notifies the associated 2026 test guide.

That matters for:

• IPS manufacturers 
• network-security equipment suppliers 
• telecom operators procuring such equipment 
• technical evaluation teams 
• laboratories or testing teams 

businesses maintaining TEC technical files. 

Do not treat every cybersecurity product as an IPS

A firewall, Intrusion Detection System, Unified Threat Management appliance, and Intrusion Prevention System can serve different functions and may sit under different TEC documents.

TEC's telecom-infrastructure listing itself separately identifies Firewall, UTM, Intrusion Detection System, and Intrusion Prevention System under IP Security Equipment. 

So a supplier should not classify an appliance as falling under TEC 49141 merely because it has some cybersecurity features.

The exact function and applicable TEC category need to be checked.

TEC 88321:2026 – PON OTDR Test Guide for FTTH Applications

The third notified document is TEC 88321:2026, covering Passive Optical Network Optical Time Domain Reflectometer for FTTH Applications. 

The name sounds technical, but the basic idea is easier to understand once the abbreviations are separated:

• PON- Passive Optical Network 
• OTDR- Optical Time Domain Reflectometer 
• FTTH- Fibre to the Home 

An OTDR is used while testing and examining optical-fibre links. Equipment in this category can help technical teams assess fibre characteristics and locate problems along a fibre link.

Related Generic Requirement

TEC's standards database lists TEC 88320:2026 – PON Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (For FTTH Applications) as a Generic Requirement. The database shows it as a Type Approval category document. 

The relationship therefore follows the same broad pattern:

A manufacturer or supplier should review the underlying GR before deciding whether its instrument falls within the scope.

Test Guide, Generic Requirement and Essential Requirement Are Not the Same Thing

This distinction is where many compliance discussions become unnecessarily confusing.

A business may hear that a “TEC standard” has been notified and immediately assume that a fresh mandatory certificate is required. That conclusion can be premature.

A simple way to understand the documents is:

TEC's current MTCTE portal states that equipment notified under MTCTE cannot be sold, deployed, or otherwise used in India without a valid Certificate of Conformity Assessment as prescribed for that equipment. The portal also makes clear that testing under MTCTE is against applicable Essential Requirements. 

That is why product-specific verification matters.

Does S.O. 5179(E) Automatically Mean Fresh TEC or MTCTE Certification Is Required?

Not from this Gazette alone.

S.O. 5179(E) notifies three test guides. It does not contain a separate statement saying that all three product categories are being introduced as a fresh MTCTE phase or that every existing product must immediately obtain a new certificate. 

That does not mean certification requirements can be ignored.

The correct compliance exercise is to check:

• the exact product 
• its TEC classification 
• the applicable GR 
• the applicable Essential Requirement, if any 
• whether the equipment appears under the relevant MTCTE coverage 
• the current certification status 
• whether the new test guide affects the testing reference being used. 

This distinction is particularly important for businesses looking for TEC Certification Services in India. Certification support should begin with applicability, not with filing an application before anyone has confirmed which route applies.

Which Businesses Should Review the Notification?

The Gazette does not list a stakeholder matrix, but its three product categories make several business groups clearly relevant.

Telecom Equipment Manufacturers

Manufacturers should check whether any current or upcoming model falls within the subject of the new test guide.

The review should cover:

• exact model 
• technical function 
• associated GR 
• testing standard currently used 
• existing approval or certificate, where applicable 
• changes between older and current technical documents. 

OEMs Developing Products for India

An overseas or Indian OEM may already test a product against international requirements.

That does not automatically answer the Indian TEC compliance question.

The OEM should check whether:

• an Indian TEC document covers the exact model 
• the test evidence matches that model 
• an Indian conformity-assessment route applies 
• additional Indian testing or documentation is required. 

Importers

Importers are often dependent on documents supplied by an overseas manufacturer.

Before commercial import or supply, they should check:

• model number 
• equipment description 
• TEC product category 
• applicable certification position 
• test reports 
• certificate details, where relevant 
• consistency between imported goods and compliance documents. 

Testing Laboratories

Testing teams need to work from the correct version of the technical reference.

For a newly notified test guide, the laboratory or technical team should check whether the testing plan, product configuration, and requirement document all refer to the correct standard.

Telecom Service Providers and Network Businesses

Where such businesses procure IPS equipment, telecom-terminal power systems, or PON OTDR instruments, procurement and technical teams may also need to check the applicable product standards before accepting equipment.

Product-to-Standard Mapping

A short mapping exercise can prevent a great deal of unnecessary compliance work.

The “additional check” column is important. Matching the product with a test guide is only one part of the compliance exercise.

What Should Manufacturers Review Now?

A manufacturer should begin with its product file.

1. Check the exact product configuration 

Do not rely only on the marketing name.

Review:

• equipment function 
• hardware configuration 
• software/firmware where relevant 
• interfaces 
• intended network use 
• model variations. 

2. Identify the applicable TEC GR

For the three notified test guides, related GR documents exist for the relevant product families. The technical team should work from the correct GR instead of using the Gazette as a substitute for the engineering document.

3. Match the correct test guide

Check whether the test plan or test report currently refers to:

• TEC 66101:2026 
• TEC 49141:2026 or 
• TEC 88321:2026, 

as applicable.

4. Review existing testing

Where the product was tested earlier, check:

• test-report date 
• test-guide version 
• product model 
• configuration tested 
• laboratory details 
• whether the testing remains acceptable under the applicable scheme. 

5. Check certification separately

Do not assume that test-guide notification automatically creates or removes a certification requirement.

What Should Importers Check Before Relying on Supplier Documents?

A foreign supplier may send an importer a large compliance pack, but the number of documents is less important than whether those documents actually cover the imported equipment.

Importers should match:

Invoice model → technical model → test report → certificate → applicable Indian requirement.

Any mismatch deserves attention.

For example, the imported unit should not be assumed compliant simply because the manufacturer has a certificate for a related family or an earlier version unless that coverage is actually permitted by the applicable certification framework.

A TEC Compliance Consultant or product compliance team can help with this document-matching exercise before the shipment or certification process reaches a stage where correction becomes more difficult.

What Should Testing Teams Check?

Testing teams should not treat the Gazette number as the testing methodology.

S.O. 5179(E) only identifies the three notified test guides. 

The technical team should instead work with the actual test guide and the corresponding product-requirement document.

Useful review points include:

• correct TEC document number 
• correct edition/year 
• exact product model 
• applicable clauses 
• required test configuration 
• supporting technical information 
• applicable conformity-assessment procedure. 

Where a laboratory's scope or recognition is relevant to certification, that should also be checked under the applicable TEC procedure.

Is There a Separate Transition Period?

The short answer is: S.O. 5179(E) does not expressly state one.

There is no separate line in this Gazette giving businesses a 30-day, 60-day, 90-day or six-month transition period.

It would therefore be unsafe to publish an assumed grace period.

If TEC separately issues:

• a transition circular 
• revised implementation instruction 
• certification clarification 
• acceptance provision for older reports or 
• product-specific compliance direction, 

that separate document would need to be read on its own terms.

Until then, the article should not manufacture a transition period simply because similar regulatory changes sometimes have one.

What Happens to Existing Test Reports and Certificates?

The Gazette does not expressly cancel existing reports or certificates.

Nor does it expressly say that every older report will remain acceptable without review.

Businesses already holding compliance documents should therefore check them rather than immediately discarding them.

Existing test report review

Look at:

• product name 
• exact model 
• standard used 
• revision/year 
• date of testing 
• configuration covered. 

Existing certificate review

Check:

• product/category covered 
• model coverage 
• validity status 
• referenced Essential Requirement or standard 
• whether any separate TEC instruction affects it. 

Application already in progress

Where certification or testing is already underway, confirm whether the authority or certification process requires the application to move to the newly notified test guide.

Do not assume either outcome without checking.

Notification Date vs Effective Date

There are two dates that should not be mixed.

The Gazette itself states that the standards are notified with effect from the date of publication. 

For website content, it is therefore better to write:

“The notification is dated 18 September 2026 and takes effect from its publication in the Official Gazette.”

This is more accurate than simply saying, “The standards became effective on 18 September.”

What the Gazette Does Not Provide

Readers often expect a regulatory update to answer every operational question. This particular Gazette cannot do that because it is only a standards-notification document.

It does not expressly provide:

• TEC application steps 
• MTCTE application steps 
• application documents 
• application fee 
• testing charges 
• certification fee 
• certificate validity 
• renewal period 
• detailed technical values 
• laboratory test conditions 
• penalty amount 
• transition period 
• grandfathering rule 
• treatment of each existing certificate 
• treatment of each existing test report. 

Those points should not be filled in with generic TEC information unless it genuinely applies to the product being discussed.

This is especially important for TEC Certification Services in India. A responsible service page or compliance article should first establish the product-specific route rather than giving one generic process for every telecom device.

Business Impact of the New TEC Test Guides

These are practical implications rather than new statutory duties expressly written in S.O. 5179(E).

Compliance Risks Businesses Should Avoid

Using a Product Name as the Only Basis for Classification

Names used in brochures are not always enough to establish regulatory scope. Technical function matters.

Assuming Every Notified TEC Document Creates a Fresh Certificate Requirement

The September Gazette notifies test guides. Mandatory certification applicability needs a separate product-specific check.

Testing Against the Wrong Document Version

A report prepared using an earlier standard may require review once a new test guide becomes relevant. 

Mixing Up GR, Test Guide and ER Numbers

These documents can be related, but they do not serve identical purposes.

Maintain a simple internal matrix showing:

Product → GR → Test Guide → ER → Certificate

where each element is applicable.

Assuming There Must Be a Grace Period

The Gazette does not state one.

Automatically Retesting Everything

A new notification should trigger a review, not an automatic decision that every product must be tested again.

First establish what changed and whether the exact model is affected.

Assuming Existing Certificates Are Automatically Invalid

S.O. 5179(E) does not say that.

Practical TEC Compliance Checklist

Businesses dealing with any of the three product categories can use the following internal checklist.

Product Identification

• Confirm exact product name. 
• Record model number. 
• Confirm intended telecom application. 
• Document major technical functions. 

Standard Mapping

• Identify the relevant TEC Generic Requirement. 
• Identify the relevant Test Guide. 
• Check whether an Essential Requirement applies. 
• Confirm whether the model falls within MTCTE or another TEC certification route. 

Testing Review

• Check existing test report. 
• Verify the standard number used. 
• Verify year/version. 
• Check whether the report covers the exact model. 
• Confirm laboratory acceptability where applicable. 

Certification Review

• Check existing TEC/MTCTE certificate. 
• Verify model coverage. 
• Confirm current status. 
• Check whether any separate transition instruction applies. 

Internal Records

• Update regulatory register. 
• Update technical-document index. 
• Record the applicable TEC standard. 
• Keep correspondence and compliance evidence together. 
• Track future TEC clarification affecting the same product. 

What Businesses Should Do Next

A practical response does not need to begin with a fresh application.

Step 1: Identify the Product Properly

Write down exactly what the equipment is and what it does.

Step 2: Check Which of the Three Test Guides Is Relevant

Do not match equipment purely by a broad word such as “solar”, “security” or “fibre”.

Step 3: Review the Related Generic Requirement

The GR gives the product context needed to understand the test guide.

Step 4: Review Current Compliance Documentation

Consider existing reports, certificates, and technical documentation prior to determining that testing must be done.

Step 5: Determine MTCTE or Other Certifications’ Relevance

The official MTCTE standard of TEC uses compulsory certification for equipment certified under this standard. This status of the product must be determined by the current requirements of the MTCTE rather than by S.O. 5179(E).

Step 6: Sort Out Mismatches Prior to Testing or Submittals

If any document or technical information is inconsistent, it must be sorted out first.

This will save businesses from embarking on an inappropriate path towards compliance.

How Corpseed Can Help With TEC Certification and Telecom Product Compliance

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Corpseed's TEC Certification Services in India can support manufacturers, OEMs, and importers where TEC or MTCTE requirements apply to their telecom equipment.

1. TEC Standard Applicability Check

Corpseed can assist in reviewing:

• product description 
• model 
• technical purpose 
• intended use 
• applicable TEC product category 
• relevant GR, Test Guide, or ER. 

This helps establish the correct compliance route before testing begins.

2. TEC Certification Services in India

Where TEC certification is applicable to the product, Corpseed can support the business with the certification process and related documentation.

• Support may include:
• product information review 
• document preparation 
• application support 
• technical document coordination 
• compliance tracking 
• response support during processing. 

Certification requirements remain product-specific, so applicability should be checked first.

3. MTCTE Certification Services

In relation to telecommunication equipment covered under MTCTE, Corpseed will be able to help business entities understand the relevant Essential Requirements and prepare for the appropriate certification process.

It is clearly established through TEC’s official MTCTE portal that the equipment covered under MTCTE requires a valid Certificate of Conformity Assessment according to the prescribed standards.

4. Product Testing and Certification Support

Where testing is required, Corpseed can assist with coordination between:

• manufacturer 
• importer 
• technical team 
• laboratory and 
• compliance documentation team. 

The objective is to make sure the equipment being tested matches the equipment described in the application and technical documents.

5. Existing Certificate and Test Report Review

Businesses already holding TEC or related compliance documents can get their records reviewed before deciding whether a fresh action is necessary.

The review can focus on:

• standard version 
• model coverage 
• test report 
• certificate 
• technical changes 
• new TEC notification. 

6. Telecom Product Compliance Services

Corpseed also has the ability to offer Telecom Product Compliance Services for situations where there are many regulations applicable to one product.

This is relevant for manufacturers and importers who would like to know all the compliance procedures before bringing any telecom equipment into India.

7. Compliance Gap Assessment

A compliance gap review can identify issues such as:

• wrong TEC category 
• outdated standard reference 
• missing product evidence 
• mismatched model number 
• incomplete technical documentation 
• unclear MTCTE applicability. 

Correcting these issues early is usually easier than discovering them after testing or filing has started.

Need Support With a TEC-Regulated Telecom Product?

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Key Takeaways

The September 2026 notification is narrow but technically important.

• The Government has notified three TEC test guides through S.O. 5179(E). 
• TEC 66101:2026 relates to SPV-based standalone/hybrid power supplies for Wi-Fi and similar telecom terminals. 
• TEC 49141:2026 covers Intrusion Prevention Systems. 
• TEC 88321:2026 covers PON OTDR equipment for FTTH applications. 
• All three documents are Test Guides they should not automatically be treated as fresh MTCTE product notifications. 
• Manufacturers and importers should map their exact product with the relevant GR, test guide, and certification framework. 
• S.O. 5179(E) does not expressly provide a separate fee, application process, transition period, or certificate-validity rule. 
• Existing test reports and certificates should be reviewed before any decision is made about fresh testing. 
• Businesses seeking TEC Certification Services in India should first establish whether certification applies to the exact product rather than starting with a generic filing process.