JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA ANNOUNCES MAJOR TELECOM SECURITY REFORMS TO EASE COMPLIANCE FROM 2026

New Delhi, Dec 30, 2025 : Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Monday announced a series of major strategic reforms by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) aimed at strengthening India’s telecom security ecosystem while significantly reducing compliance burdens for the industry.

The measures, implemented through the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), are aligned with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the principle of Design in India, Solve in India, Scale for the World.

The reforms, to be rolled out in 2026, include the extension of the Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme, a sharp reduction in application fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs), and the simplification of security assurance requirements for Optical Network Terminator (ONT) devices. Together, the initiatives seek to bolster national security while improving ease of doing business for both domestic and international stakeholders.

As part of the first initiative, the DoT has extended the Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme beyond January 1, 2026, for a further period of two years. Introduced in October 2024, the scheme was designed to prevent disruption in business processes for IP Router and Wi-Fi CPE products that became subject to mandatory security certification from October 1, 2024. Under the scheme, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) submit a declaration of conformance while their products undergo testing at designated TSTLs, along with an undertaking to address any deficiencies identified during testing.

The scope of the Pro Tem certification has now been expanded to include 5G Core Session Management Function (SMF), Optical Line Terminals, Optical Network Terminators, and new product launches. So far, NCCS has issued 107 Pro Tem certificates, ensuring business continuity for OEMs. The earlier extension of certificate validity from six months to two years has further eased pressure on manufacturers facing tight deployment timelines.

In another major step, the DoT has announced a reduction of more than 50% in the designation application fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories. NCCS currently has nine designated TSTLs across the country covering 27 telecom equipment and network functions. The revised fee structure introduces a simplified, application-based model, replacing earlier complex slabs.

The new policy also provides special concessions, including a 50% fee reduction for Indian startups, micro and small enterprises, and women-owned enterprises, while granting complete fee waivers to central and state government testing agencies, government institutions, IITs, and autonomous bodies. Renewal fees have been lowered, scope expansion has been made more affordable, and no fees will be charged for Specific Security Requirement (SSR) additions where Common Security Requirement (CSR) approval already exists. These measures are expected to expand testing capacity, encourage wider participation, and reduce time-to-market for secure telecom products.

The DoT has also simplified the Indian Telecommunication Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) certification process for Optical Network Terminator devices. ONTs, which are deployed at customer premises for internet access, were brought under ITSAR in November 2023, with mandatory certification coming into effect from January 1, 2026. Due to chipset compilation methods resulting in multiple variants with different hash values, manufacturers were earlier required to seek separate certification for each variant, significantly increasing costs.

Following consultations with industry stakeholders, NCCS has introduced a mechanism that allows customized variants of ONTs to be tested under a single certification procedure. This is expected to reduce the number of testing cases by nearly ten times, providing substantial financial relief to manufacturers while maintaining security standards.

These reforms build on earlier steps taken by the DoT, including a reduction of up to 95% in security test evaluation fees for telecom and ICT products announced in July 2025, and the simplification of compliance processes for highly specialised equipment and end-of-sale or end-of-life products. Collectively, the measures reinforce India’s position as a trusted telecom manufacturing and testing hub while strengthening national security infrastructure.