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Wireless communication devices are common in our hyperconnected world, ranging from routers and phones to IoT devices and home appliances. WPC certification, or Wireless Planning and Coordination certification, is a commercial and regulatory requirement for Indian companies willing to import wireless devices to sell. Testing radio frequency, or RF testing, is part of the certification. In product reliability, conformity, and reduced time to market, the article guides the manufacturer's hand by walking through the critical steps of performing RF testing for WPC approval.
WPC Certification is issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India. It controls the manufacture, sale, import, and use of wireless equipment with license-free frequency bands like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, and Zigbee.
Equipment within these frequency bands is RF tested and will also need to obtain an Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from WPC before it can be sold or used in India.
Radio frequency testing is conducted to ensure that wireless devices are meeting the requirements of the frequency spectrum rules. RF testing entails measurement of the following parameters:
RF testing is required to operate in the licensed or unlicensed frequency bands (most commonly 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, or 865-868 MHz) without causing interference with other wireless transmission.
Step-by-Step RF Testing Process for WPC Certification
The below is the step-by-step procedure for receiving RF Testing WPC Certificates:
1. Test for Applicability: Check if your product is exempted from licensing prior to RF testing. The devices that operate on the de-licensed frequencies included in the WPC list are eligible for ETA certification.
The below devices would largely require WPC certification and RF testing:
Wi-Fi access points
Bluetooth speakers
Smart home devices
Industry IoT device
RF testing is required if your equipment transmits or receives radio frequency signals.
2. Choose a WPC ETA APPROVAL or NABL-approved laboratory: Testing of RF must be conducted at a WPC-approved or NABL-approved laboratory. Using an approved laboratory ensures:
Accurate measurement of radiofrequency parameters
Test reports that are compliant with requirements to file along with WPC less chance of delay or rejection
Depending on your device type and frequency band, make the laboratory comply with IEC, ETSI, or ITU requirements.
3. Ready technical documentation: Make and collect necessary documents prior to submitting an application. They are:
Product datasheet
Block schematic
Circuit diagram
Antenna specifications
RF test report
User guide
Conformance statement (if applicable)
During certification, accurate documentation ensures quick processing and avoids delays.
4. Conduct Pre-Compliance Tests: Pre-compliance RF testing should be conducted during product development. This identifies and fixes errors at an early phase, which includes:
Harmonic distortion
Frequency drift
EMI/EMC non-compliance
Preventable electricity emissions
Reworks early,, saving time and money through guaranteeing the final product to RF test successfully on the first try.
5. Submit and prepare your ETA application to WPC: Once testing RF is done and ready, use the SARAL SANCHAR website (https://saralsanchar.gov.in) to submit your ETA application.
The foreign goods must be certified by WPC by the Indian importer or authorized agent.
The documents usually are:
RF test report
Technical specifications of the product
Letter of authorization (if any)
Purchase invoice (in case of foreign products)
Applicant PAN and GST details
6. WPC Review and Acceptance wait: In case the product is in line with the standards, WPC will confirm the application, authenticate the RF test report, and grant an ETA certificate. Depending on workload and document accuracy, the standard timeframe is between one to three weeks.
After approval, the ETA certificate grants your products the legitimacy to be utilized, marketed, and imported legally in India.
These are some hurdles one can face in the field of RF Testing:
a. Poor Records: Inadequate or faulty papers delay the majority of applications. Double-check requirements at all times and provide correct RF test results.
b. Non-Compliant Devices: Because of over-emission or incorrect frequency bands, some incoming goods are failing the RF test. Work hand in hand with your product development team to be compliant from the start.
c. Inexperienced Testing Labs: New or unaccredited laboratory test results can be faulty. Always choose a lab that has acquired NABL or WPC accreditation.
Steps to foster the process of gaining WPC certification are as follows:
Employ Pre-Certified Modules: You will not necessarily have to retest the entire device if your device utilizes an RF module that already possesses an ETA.
Have Easy Access to RF Test Reports: Store test reports in easy-access digital formats for subsequent audits or certificate renewals.
Plan: To avoid delayed launches, incorporate WPC compliance as part of the product development cycle.
RF testing for WPC certification does not need to be a time-consuming endeavor. Companies can accelerate their road to market using the above steps: selecting the right laboratory, producing proper documentation, and ensuring compliance from the beginning of the design process. Compliance, in addition to making the product legal, makes the product more real and speaks to consumers.
Thorough RF testing and WPC ETA CERTIFICATE within a time-bound period are the success determinants if you are an established electronics company or a new player venturing into the Indian IoT space.
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