WPC License: What Products are Covered Under it?

Wireless Planning & Coordination (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(WPC License), which caters to the needs of all wireless users. 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.

WPC license

WPC license is 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.

Equipment Type Approval  (ETA)

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 products like 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.

Also Read: Unified License

ETA Approval Types

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 have to appoint Authorized Indian Representative, widely known as AIR. So, the nomination of AIR can vary as per the followings:

• If the manufacturer has a liaison or branch office in India, they will become the AIR.
• 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.
• 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 for WPC License

Some of the most common products for which the businesses want the WPC ETA certificate are based on the following technologies:

Bluetooth

WPC certificate for Bluetooth is a wireless way to connect one 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.

Drones

So, the ETA certificate for Drones and related equipment is a new requirement in the market. Since drones are special equipment which the military uses frequently, 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: Manufacturer License: Important Points and Documents

Examples of WPC certificate products

Here, we are mentioning some of the wireless products, majorly driven by the Bluetooth and wireless technology, that need WPC ETA approval before the 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