General Information:
WPC is the Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. WPC certification is mandatory for all wireless products such as wifi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, etc being sold into India. Testing involved for WPC has some similarities to FCC wireless testing. For products utilizing a WPC approved wireless module, no testing is required on the end product assuming the module configuration is the same in the end product as it was in the original test configuration. Although testing can be avoided by using an approved wireless module, the end product must still be registered with the WPC.
Products that do not utilize pre-approved modules, and for module type approval to WPC, full testing is required for certification. For convenience, certification can be achieved using test reports from ILAC accredited laboratories outside of India. The Indian government has strict frequency regulations for wireless products restricting certain frequency ranges from public use. It is important therefore to verify frequency allocations, and transmit power requirements for products not utilizing pre-approved modules.
Click here to see a video and download the presentation regarding the latest requirements for BIS Safety and WPC Wireless Certification.
Challenges Obtaining and Maintaining WPC Certification
Obtaining WPC certification can be tricky, and delays can occur without proper knowledge of certification requirements. The following are preventable issues that can add cost or time to projects:
- Identifying knowledgeable certification agencies to interface with WPC.
- Incorrect frequencies used for wireless product’s application
- WPC certification report not designed to leverage all platform models
- Products that require testing are not sent with the proper test setup
- Laboratories make little effort to resolve product deficiencies during testing.
How Can We Help?
G&M Compliance’s India office was established to assist customers in averting common certification setbacks. We utilize the following practices to achieve a fast and efficient certification experience:
- Utilize proven, authorized agencies to expedite the certification process
- Determine proper frequency range(s) and power limitations.
- Maximize certification report coverage for product families.
- Communicate testing requirements in advance, to ensure proper test setup.
- We troubleshoot sample issues at the test lab if necessary, to keep the process moving forward.
G&M Compliance has operations in the U.S. and India to ensure your wireless product utilizes the right application, the right testing process, and moves through certification efficiently. Our compliance experts understand the technical requirements necessary to minimize the risk of failure, and stay updated on ever-changing regulations.
For more information, additional questions, or to request a quote – Please submit an online RFQ, Contact Us, or call.
For electrical products, depending on the type of equipment, additional certifications other than WPC may be required for India. Among these are BIS for many types of electrical products, and TEC for telecommunications products. More detailed information can be found by clicking on the links to these specific services. For more information about what certifications are required for your product please contact us.
Mark – No Certification mark required. WPC ID number is required to be marked on the product.
In-Country Representation – Not required
In-Country Testing – Not required.
Expiration Details – No expiration
Continuing Surveillance – No factory inspections. Market surveillance is possible
We have found that often times certification bottlenecks can occur within a manufacturer’s organization. As a result, we offer a service to provide internal help managing regulatory certification tasks. Because G&M is not a certification body, we are in a unique position to offer valuable regulatory expertise without any conflict of interest issues. In such cases we place G&M certification experts into our customers’ organizations to manage the certification process for them. Once on the inside, our managers can leverage G&Ms collective experience to guide certification processes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. To learn more about this service see our Homologation Management Service Page.
Untimely expirations of certificates can cause delays in product deliveries. Re-certification of products will generally be treated as new submittals instead of certificate renewals. This can be time-consuming and costly. G&M provides a web-based certification tracking system that alerts users when expirations are coming, provides on-line storage of important certification documentation, and is searchable by certification specific criteria. For more information on this system see our CATS page.