Essential Requirements for Equipment Operating in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz Bands

Scope and Impact

This regulation establishes the Essential Requirements (ER) under the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) regime for devices operating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. It applies to Wi-Fi Access Points, Wi-Fi Controllers, Wi-Fi Base Stations, CPEs, and Point-to-Point (PTP) or Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) systems. The regulation ensures that these devices comply with Indian national standards for electromagnetic compatibility, safety, and radio frequency usage before being placed on the Indian market.

Permitted Radio Bands and Technical Parameters

The regulation covers several radio interfaces with specific technical requirements governed by the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) and relevant Government of India Gazette Notifications (GSR). Key parameters include:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi / PTP PMP: Operates in the 2.4 GHz band. Conformance is based on ETSI EN 300 328 or FCC Part 15.247/15.249. Technical limits such as EIRP and transmitter output power are defined by WPC GSR 45(E).
• 5 GHz Wi-Fi / PTP PMP: Covers frequency ranges 5.150-5.250 GHz, 5.250-5.350 GHz, 5.470-5.725 GHz, and 5.725-5.875 GHz. Requirements follow ETSI EN 301 893, ETSI EN 302 502, or FCC Part 15.407/15.249. Technical parameters for EIRP and Power Spectral Density are governed by WPC GSR 1048(E).
• 6 GHz Wi-Fi: Operates in the 5925–6425 MHz band. Conformance is tested against ETSI EN 303 687 or FCC Part 15.407. Maximum EIRP, power spectral density, and bandwidth limits are strictly governed by WPC GSR 47(E) dated 20.01.2026.
• Bluetooth/BLE: Basic RF requirements follow ETSI EN 300 328, with power limits specified in WPC GSR 45(E).
• LPWAN (LoRa and Sigfox): RF requirements follow ETSI EN 300 220-2, with operational parameters defined by WPC GSR 564(E).
• NFC: Requirements follow ETSI EN 300 330.
• Cellular Interfaces (Variant 3): Includes support for GSM/GPRS/EDGE (3GPP TS 51 010-1), LTE/LTE-A (3GPP TS 36.521-1), and 5G NR FR1/FR2 (3GPP TS 38.521 series).

Exemptions and Restrictions

• The 6 GHz band usage is specifically restricted to the 5925–6425 MHz range.
• Outdoor limits for Wi-Fi interfaces are categorized as "Very Low Power" as per the latest WPC GSRs.
• Radio conformance requirements and limits mentioned in Indian NFAP and WPC GSRs supersede those listed in international standards (ETSI/FCC) regarding radiated power and spectral density.

In-Country Testing and Conformity Assessment

The regulation mandates conformity assessment through the Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS). Testing must be conducted against the following standards:

• EMI/EMC: Conducted and Radiated Emissions must meet TEC EMI EMC Standard CISPR 32 / EN 55032. Immunity testing includes AC/DC voltage dips (EN/IEC 61000-4-11/29), ESD (EN/IEC 61000-4-2), Radiated RF (EN/IEC 61000-4-3), Fast Transients (EN/IEC 61000-4-4), Surges (EN/IEC 61000-4-5), and RF Field Induced Conducted Disturbance (EN/IEC 61000-4-6).
• Safety: Information Technology Equipment must comply with IS 13252-1, IEC 60950-1, or IEC 62368-1.
• Radio Conformance: Physical layer testing for various interfaces (Optical Ethernet, Electrical Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) must align with IEEE 802.3 series, ETSI, and FCC standards as specified in the variant-linked parameters.
• IP Protocol: For Wi-Fi Access Points and Controllers, IPv6 conformance (RFC 2460 or RFC 8200) and Dual IP Layer Operation (RFC 4213) are required.

Labeling Requirements

Devices certified under this regulation must adhere to the mandatory labeling requirements prescribed under the MTCTE procedure. While specific label artwork is not in this ER, the equipment must be marked to indicate compliance with the MTCTE certification granted by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC).

Modification of Existing Regulations

This document is issued under the MTCTE framework and references "Annexures to ERs" No. TEC/SD/DD/TCP-222/02/June19. It integrates updated requirements for the 6 GHz band as per the latest Gazette Notifications, specifically superseding international limits with those defined in the National Frequency Allocation Plan and relevant WPC GSRs (e.g., GSR 45(E), GSR 1048(E), and GSR 47(E)).