India Updates LAN Switch Standards to Ensure Safety and Performance

India has issued notifications to revise the essential requirements for LAN Switch products, reinforcing safety and performance standards in local area network devices.

INDIA – LAN SWITCH

India Updates LAN Switch Standards for Safety and Performance

New essential requirements set benchmarks for network device compliance.

1 Jul 2026 Notification date

What changed

Safety and performance requirements revised for LAN Switch products.

Technical benchmarks updated to align with new standards.

TEC reference 37942410 issued for consistent enforcement.

Who it affects

LAN Switch manufacturers must ensure products meet the revised essential requirements.

Importers must verify compliance with the new safety and performance standards.

Key dates

1 Jul 2026 — formal notification issued revising standards.
India — LAN Switch essential requirements update

Compliance Analysis: Revised Essential Requirements for LAN Switch Products in India

India has initiated a revision of the Essential Requirement (ER) Standard on "LAN Switch" under the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), to enhance safety, security, and conformity assessment for local area network (LAN) devices. The draft standard (Draft TEC 37942410) is currently open for public comments until 25 January 20261.

Key Objectives and Regulatory Framework

The revision aims to:

  1. Ensure user safety and telecom network security1.
  2. Establish a conformity assessment framework for LAN switches to verify compliance with essential requirements1.
  3. Align with India’s broader telecom regulatory objectives under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)1.

The standard is notified under Article 10.6 of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and is classified as a mandatory technical regulation1.

Applicability and Scope

  1. Products Covered:
    • LAN Switches (telecommunication devices)1.
    • No specific HS codes or ICS numbers are provided in the notification, but the standard applies to all LAN switches intended for use in India’s telecom networks1.
  1. Regulatory Authority:
    • Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), under the DoT, is the designated agency responsible for drafting, notifying, and enforcing the standard1.
    • Contact for Compliance Queries:
    • Mr. Arvind Kumar Tripathi, DDG (IMP & TEP), TEC.
    • Email: `tbtenquirytel.tec@gov.in`1.

Key Requirements Under the Draft Standard

While the full 48-page draft standard (available (https://tec.gov.in/pdf/consultations/draft_ER_of_LAN_Switch.pdf)) is not summarized in the notification, the following essential requirements are implied based on the stated objectives1:

RegulationKey RequirementDeadline/ThresholdAuthority
Draft TEC 37942410Mandatory conformity assessment for LAN switches to ensure safety and network security1.Entry into force: Date of notification in the E-Gazette1.TEC (DoT)
WTO TBT NotificationCompliance with Article 10.6 of the TBT Agreement (transparency and non-discrimination)1.Comments due by 25 January 20261.DoT (via TEC)
Conformity AssessmentLAN switches must meet essential requirements (safety, performance, interoperability)1.Adoption date: To be determined1.TEC

Compliance Process and Timeline

  1. Public Consultation Phase:
    • Stakeholders may submit comments using the template in Annexure-I of the draft standard1.
    • Deadline for comments: 25 January 2026 (60 days from notification)1.
  1. Adoption and Enforcement:
    • The standard will be adopted on a date to be determined by the DoT1.
    • Entry into force: The date of notification in the E-Gazette1.
    • Post-enforcement, LAN switches must comply with the revised essential requirements to be marketed or used in India’s telecom networks1.
  1. Conformity Assessment:
    • The draft standard establishes a framework for assessing conformity with the essential requirements1.
    • Specific testing, certification, or labeling requirements (if any) will be detailed in the final standard1.

Penalties and Non-Compliance

The notification does not specify penalties for non-compliance. However, under India’s telecom regulations, non-adherence to TEC standards may result in:

  • Prohibition of import/sale of non-compliant devices1].
  • Legal action under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations (not explicitly stated in the sources).

Summary Answer

India’s Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) has proposed a revision to the Essential Requirement (ER) Standard on "LAN Switch" (Draft TEC 37942410) to enforce safety, security, and conformity assessment for LAN devices1. The draft is open for public comments until 25 January 2026, with enforcement expected upon notification in the E-Gazette1. The standard applies to all LAN switches in India’s telecom networks and mandates compliance with essential requirements1. Stakeholders must submit feedback via the TEC’s prescribed template1. While penalties are not detailed, non-compliance may lead to market restrictions1. For further details, refer to the1(https://tec.gov.in/pdf/consultations/draft_ER_of_LAN_Switch.pdf)1.

Sources

  1. Notification for revision of Standard on Essential Requirement (ER) on “LAN Switch”, TEC 37942410 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/IND423.pdf&Open=True

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