What is WPC?
The Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Ministry of Communications is the National Radio Regulatory Authority responsible for Frequency Spectrum Management, including licensing, which caters to the needs of all wireless users, such as WPC License, CLS license, DPL/NDPL, etc. These users can be both government and private. It exercises the statutory functions of the Central Government and issues licenses to establish, maintain and operate wireless stations.
Need for WPC license
WPC licenses are the legal authorization to import and sell wireless products in the country. It is a mandatory license issued by the WPC Wing of the DoT (Department of Telecommunication). With the huge influx of wireless products in the country, we must ensure the quality of the product imported from a foreign land. Some imported wireless products cannot always be replaced. They are quality wireless products that are affordable for a common consumer.
WPC license for Equipment Type Approval
Equipment Type Approval (ETA) is an approval that the WPC issues for importing any wireless device in India that functions in the delicensed frequency band. Such equipment includes Bluetooth devices, mobile phones, Wi-Fi technology, RFID and others. To obtain an ETA for delicensed frequency band devices, a detailed test report of the equipment obtained from a well-recognized laboratory has to be submitted to WPC for evaluation.
Types of WPC ETA Certificates
The procurement of a WPC ETA approval is based on whether the manufacturer is domestic or foreign:
Foreign Manufacturer
All foreign applicants with no liaison or branch office in India must appoint Authorized Indian Representative, widely known as AIR. So, the nomination of AIR can vary as per the followings:
With Branch Office in India
If the manufacturer has a liaison or branch office in India, they will become the AIR.
Also Read: Online Company Registration in India
With Brand Proprietor based in India
Suppose the manufacturer does not have a liaison office or branch office in India. Still, the proprietor or registered user of the brand or trademark appearing on the article is located in India. In that case, the Brand/Trademark owner will become AIR.
No Branches or Proprietor in India
Let’s say the manufacturer does not have a liaison office in India, and there is no proprietor or registered user of the brand or trademark appearing on the article in India. In that case, the other entity will become the AIR.
Domestic Manufacturer
The domestic manufacturer can directly apply for ETA because there is no need to nominate an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).
Products under ETA certification
Some of the most common products for which businesses want the WPC ETA certificate are based on the following technologies:
ETA certificate for Bluetooth products
WPC certificate for Bluetooth is a wireless way to connect one piece of equipment to another, and none needs telecom equipment. If they don’t have the approval, then there is a chance that they are working in bands that are for something else. In such cases, Bluetooth can create issues for the present radio signals.
ETA certificate for Drones
So, the ETA certificate for Drones and related equipment is a new requirement in the market. Since drones are special equipment the military frequently uses, procuring a WPC license for such equipment is mandatory. But there is no special registration for this equipment. Also, the WPC allows licensing process for the drones to be similar to that of any other WPC licenses.
Also Read: Corporate Agent License in India: IRDAI Code of Conduct
Examples of WPC License products
Here, we are mentioning some of the wireless products, majorly driven by Bluetooth and wireless technology, that need WPC ETA approval before businesses can sell or distribute them in the Indian Market:
- Indoor use of low-power wireless equipment in the frequency band 2.4GHz to 2.4835GHz.
- Use of low-power wireless equipment in the frequency band 2.4GHz to 2.4835GHz
- Indoor use of low-power wireless equipment in the frequency band 5GHz
- Outdoor use of wireless equipment in the frequency band 5.825-5.875GHz
- Use of low-power wireless equipment in the frequency band 865-867MHz for RFID
- Use of low-power wireless equipment in the frequency band 433-434 MHz
- Use of low-power wireless equipment in the 335MHz band for Cranes remote control
- Use of low-power wireless equipment in the Citizen Band 26.957-27.383MHz