Modems (modulators-demodulators) for xDSL based Wireline Telephony

xDSL wireline telephony modems (modulators-demodulators)

CPCB CLEARANCE · WPC CLEARANCE

HSN 8517 62 30 (Modems for xDSL based Wireline Telephony) is subject to Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) import licensing under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 and mandatory Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) certification administered by the Department of Telecommunications. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) authorisation under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and ITC (HS) policy conditions 3 and 4 of Chapter 85 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) apply as additional clearance requirements.

What this is

HSN code

8517 62 30

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

WPC · Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017; MTCTE certification

Customs documentation

WPC import licence from DoT
MTCTE type-approval certificate from TEC
EPR authorisation from CPCB

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

WPCWPC·Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a WPC import licence through the SaralSanchar portal (saralsanchar.gov.in) at least 30 days before shipment arrival. For licence-exempt wireless equipment operating in low-power bands, an Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certificate generated via self-declaration on SaralSanchar is accepted at customs; verify the QR code on the certificate before filing the bill of entry.
CBIC Instruction 16/2022-CUS dated 21-07-2022 · CBIC Instruction 23/2021 dated 23-11-2021 · DoT OM F.No. R-11017/02/2021-PP dated 21-10-2021 · CBIC Instruction 24/2024-CUS dated 22-10-2024
2
Confirm that the modem bears MTCTE certification as notified under DoT Notifications TEC/01/2017-TC dated 04-07-2019 and 23-06-2020, as amended by F.No. 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/131 dated 13-06-2022 and F.No. 5-2/2024-TC/TEC (Pt.1) dated 25-02-2025. Modems are explicitly listed as products subject to mandatory testing and certification under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017.
Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 · DoT Notification TEC/01/2017-TC dated 04-07-2019 · CBIC Instruction 15/2020-CUS dated 24-07-2020
3
Obtain CPCB Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation covering modems, which are listed under Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 as transmitting equipment. EPR authorisation is not required for micro-enterprises as defined under the MSME Development Act, 2006; confirm entity status before filing.
E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 · G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the WPC import licence with MTCTE certification — they are independent obligations that run in parallel, and arrival at customs without a valid MTCTE type-approval certificate results in consignment detention regardless of whether the WPC licence is current. Additionally, importers using the SaralSanchar self-declaration ETA route must apply 30 days before arrival; a last-minute application does not generate a certificate in time for out-of-charge, and the CPCB EPR authorisation is a separate, ongoing compliance obligation that must be obtained before the first import.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8517 62 30 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers xDSL wireline modems under this tariff line. Import is governed by Wireless Planning and Coordination licensing and MTCTE certification under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017, with a concurrent CPCB EPR authorisation requirement under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.

Can modems be imported under the SaralSanchar self-declaration ETA route instead of a full WPC import licence?

Only if the equipment operates in a licence-exempt band with low transmission power; such products may use the ETA self-declaration certificate from saralsanchar.gov.in per DoT letter ETA-WPC/Policy/2018-19 dated 12-04-2019 and CBIC Instruction 24/2024-CUS dated 22-10-2024. Modems that do not meet the licence-exempt criteria require a standard WPC import licence.

Does the EPR authorisation requirement apply to all importers of modems?

No. EPR authorisation under Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 does not apply to micro-enterprises as defined under the MSME Development Act, 2006; all other importers must hold a current CPCB EPR authorisation before importing.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CPCB / WPC / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.