WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) confirms that a wireless product operating in India’s licence-exempt (de-licensed) frequency bands meets the radio frequency rules. For most such products, ETA is now granted on self-declaration: you file an application with an RF test report on the Saral Sanchar portal, pay the fee and download the certificate. Products such as radar, jammers, drones and satellite terminals are excluded from this route.
Who needs WPC ETA
ETA is issued by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The DoT ETA page describes it as required for the import, sale and use of wireless communication devices that operate in de-licensed bands or involve RF transmission.
Typical products include anything with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other short-range radio:
- Mobile handsets, smartphones, tablets and laptops
- Smart watches, fitness bands and earphones
- Wireless speakers, microphones, keyboards and mice
- Printers, scanners and cameras with wireless connectivity
- IoT modules, smart home devices, RFID readers and other short-range devices
The self-declaration route
On 9 September 2024 DoT issued an office memorandum stating that, to promote ease of doing business, all ETA applications for wireless devices made licence-exempt through Gazette notifications are to be granted on a self-declaration basis. Applicants file on the Saral Sanchar portal with the documents and fees, and download the ETA certificate once the application is successfully submitted.
The DoT ETA page lists four exclusions from self-declaration:
| Excluded from self-declaration | Example |
|---|---|
| Radar | Automotive or industrial radar |
| Jamming devices | Signal jammers |
| Drones | Unmanned aircraft |
| Satellite equipment | Any device transmitting to a satellite, such as VSAT terminals |
Equally important: self-declaration applies only to equipment in the licence-exempt bands notified by the government. A device that transmits in a licensed band needs a different approach altogether.
Documents you will need
The DoT ETA page lists three core documents:
- RF test report for the model, showing the frequencies, output power and other parameters relevant to the de-licensed band rules.
- Authorisation from the manufacturer, where the applicant is an Indian representative or importer rather than the manufacturer itself.
- Technical literature, such as the datasheet or user manual describing the radio specifications.
Keep the model name and number identical across all three documents and the application. Mismatches between the test report and the application are the most common reason for problems later.
Step-by-step on Saral Sanchar
The steps below follow DoT’s applicant manual for ETA self-declaration.
- Register on saralsanchar.gov.in. Enter company and authorised contact details and verify the email address and mobile number by OTP. Login credentials are sent by email.
- First login. Change the password (OTP-verified) and open the WPC tab.
- Start an ETA application. Choose ETA type “Self Declaration”.
- Company information. Confirm the organisation and contact details.
- Equipment details. Select the equipment category, make and model, and save a draft to receive a provisional application number.
- RF test details. Enter the test report details and upload the test report, manufacturer authorisation and technical literature.
- Validate and download the undertaking, then submit the application.
- Pay the fee through Bharatkosh, the government’s payment gateway. As per DoT’s ETA page, at the time of writing, the fee is listed as Rs 10,000.
- Upload the signed undertaking.
- Download the ETA certificate from the portal.
DoT’s ETA page states that the ETA is valid for the lifetime of the model unless revoked by the WPC Wing.
Note: DoT is moving several licensing services from the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to authorisations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and has opened a separate Authorisation Portal for some services during 2026 (for example, Radio Equipment Possession Authorisation from 6 August 2026). At the time of writing, DoT’s ETA page, last updated in October 2026, still directs ETA applications to Saral Sanchar. Check the DoT eServices portal before filing in case the ETA process moves.
Getting the RF test report right
The RF test report carries most of the weight in a self-declaration, because no one at WPC re-tests the product before the certificate is issued. A useful report:
- identifies the exact model and hardware version, ideally with photographs and the same model number used in the application;
- covers every radio in the product, for example Wi-Fi in each band used, Bluetooth and any other short-range link;
- reports the parameters relevant to the de-licensed band notification under which the device operates, such as frequency range and transmit power;
- comes from a competent laboratory, preferably one accredited for the tests performed, so that the report stands up if the approval is ever questioned; and
- matches the product being sold, not an earlier prototype.
Because ETA can be revoked by the WPC Wing, the self-declaration is only as safe as the evidence behind it. Keep the full test report, technical file and undertaking on record for every model.
What ETA does and does not cover
ETA is a radio compliance approval. It does not replace other requirements:
- Imports. The 2024 memorandum is explicit that ETA holders must obtain any No Objection Certificate or other clearance required by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, and are solely responsible for meeting import rules.
- BIS registration. Many wireless products are also electronics notified under BIS’s Compulsory Registration Scheme, for example laptops, tablets, smart watches, wireless keyboards and power adaptors. Check the BIS Scheme-II list.
- Other DoT requirements. Telecom equipment may also fall under separate DoT testing and certification rules; check whether these apply to your product.
- E-waste EPR. Electrical and electronic equipment sold in India can trigger producer obligations under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
Common mistakes
- Applying for a product outside the de-licensed bands. Self-declaration only works for licence-exempt equipment.
- Using a module’s ETA for a finished product. If you build a radio module into your own product and sell it under your brand, check whether a separate ETA is needed for the end product rather than assuming the module approval is enough.
- Thin RF test reports. Reports that do not cover all the bands the device uses, or test a different hardware version, invite questions.
- Missing authorisation. Importers applying without a clear authorisation letter from the manufacturer.
- Model proliferation. Each model needs its own ETA; plan naming so that genuinely identical products are not filed separately, and genuinely different radios are not hidden under one model number.
- Treating ETA as an import licence. Customs clearance depends on DGFT policy too.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech prepares and files WPC ETA applications for manufacturers and importers, reviews RF test reports against the de-licensed band notifications, and checks whether the same product also needs BIS registration or EPR. This avoids the common situation where one approval is in place but another holds up the shipment. See our WPC ETA approval service.