On January 1, 2026, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a directive confirming that Optical Network Units (ONUs) fall under the same regulatory scope as Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) for security certification. This clarification was published through the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) and directly affects manufacturers, importers, and testing labs dealing with Passive Optical Network (PON) equipment.
Unified Regulatory Obligations
The update reinforces that the existing Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) document titled “NCCS/ITSAR/Customer Premises Equipment/PON CPEs/Optical Network Terminal (ONT) – PON family Broadband Equipment-V1.0.1” is applicable to both ONT and ONU devices. This ITSAR was originally issued on November 24, 2023.
From the effective date of any NCCS orders, all instructions, circulars, office memorandums, and notifications issued for ONTs must now be interpreted as equally applicable to ONUs. This applies to:
Mandatory security testing and certification
Compliance with technical specifications defined under ITSAR
Adherence to procedural guidance issued by NCCS
The directive aims to eliminate ambiguity in compliance processes and ensure consistent application of cybersecurity standards across all customer premises equipment within the PON category.
Next Steps for Stakeholders
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers, and Designated Telecom Security Testing Labs (TSTLs) must immediately consider ONUs within the scope of all existing and future ONT-related regulatory obligations. Future submissions for security certification must reflect this alignment to remain compliant under Indian telecom security laws.
This decision was issued with the approval of the Senior Deputy Director General (Sr. DDG) of the NCCS and communicated via official notice on the NCCS website.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
India
Certification Body: Ministry of IT and Communications, Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required
The regulatory information above is based on radio type approval certification. Access additional certification requirements in over 200 countries and territories with Global Validity’s free proprietary product certification management software, Access Manager. Learn more about the platform here or fill our quick contact form!
Global Validity is your partner for global certification success
Want to learn more about regulatory compliance and how we can help? Simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!