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Electronics and solar

Import routers and networking equipment

Routers, switches and Wi-Fi gear usually pay 20% BCD and need TEC (MTCTE) certification, plus WPC approval if wireless.

Free to importHS 8517.62
Basic customs duty
20%
20% for most routers and switches (8517 62 90); Free for listed items such as multiplexers
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.95 bn
from 85 countries

In the CBIC Customs Tariff, 8517 62 90 (“other”, which covers most routers, switches and Wi-Fi access points) is 20%; some listed lines such as PLCC equipment, DLC, SDH and multiplexers are Free. Budget 2024–25 raised BCD on PCBA of specified telecom equipment from 10% to 15%. IGST is 18% (Schedule II, heading 8517). Check your exact line on ICEGATE. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs) ↗

What is imported

Internet service providers, system integrators and IT distributors import routers, switches, access points and optical network gear. India imported about US$ 3,952 million under 8517 62 in 2025-26, mainly from the USA, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and China (TradeStat). Telecom certification is the step new importers most often miss.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. Telecom licensees must also follow DoT rules on trusted sources when they buy for their networks.

Licences and registrations you need

  • TEC (MTCTE)Routers, switches and many other telecom products need a Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment certificate before sale in India.mtcte.tec.gov.in ↗
  • DoT WPC (Equipment Type Approval)Wi-Fi routers and other radio devices need Equipment Type Approval through the Saral Sanchar portal.saralsanchar.gov.in ↗
  • CPCB (EPR — e-waste)Importers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 must register on the CPCB EPR portal before placing goods on the market.eprewastecpcb.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • MTCTE certificate and WPC approval for the exact model number.
  • Classification between Free and 20% lines, based on the technical datasheet.
  • Labelling: importer name, address and MRP on retail packs.

Practical tips

  • Ask the brand whether it already holds MTCTE and WPC approvals for India; buying certified models saves months.
  • If you sell to telecom operators, confirm the trusted-source status of the product first.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Importing uncertified models for resale — they cannot legally be sold.
  • Claiming a Free line for a product that is really a general router.
Sources (8)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs)
  2. Union Budget 2024–25 (July 2024) — Budget Speech with Annexure to Part B
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), in force 22.09.2025
  4. TEC — Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE)
  5. DoT — Saral Sanchar (WPC Equipment Type Approval)
  6. CPCB — EPR portal for e-waste
  7. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  8. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)

Import data

Where India buys routers and networking equipment

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.95 bn
Change from 2024-25
+11.9%
Supplying countries
85
Biggest supplier
United States of America
23%
United States of America: US$ 922 mnSingapore: US$ 525 mnVietnam: US$ 358 mnThailand: US$ 347 mnChina: US$ 317 mnHong Kong: US$ 240 mnMexico: US$ 239 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 172 mnTaiwan: US$ 155 mnNetherlands: US$ 109 mnSouth Korea: US$ 106 mnMalaysia: US$ 89.3 mnGermany: US$ 73.8 mnIsrael: US$ 62.8 mnJapan: US$ 41.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 922 mnUnited States of AmericaSingapore: US$ 525 mnSingaporeVietnam: US$ 358 mnVietnamThailand: US$ 347 mnChina: US$ 317 mnChinaHong Kong: US$ 240 mnHong KongMexico: US$ 239 mnMexicoUnited Kingdom: US$ 172 mnTaiwan: US$ 155 mnNetherlands: US$ 109 mnSouth Korea: US$ 106 mnMalaysia: US$ 89.3 mnGermany: US$ 73.8 mnIsrael: US$ 62.8 mnJapan: US$ 41.4 mnIndia
Where India imports routers and networking equipment from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 3.66 bn3.7k2020-212021-22: US$ 3.93 bn3.9k2021-222022-23: US$ 4.73 bn4.7k2022-232023-24: US$ 3.9 bn3.9k2023-242024-25: US$ 3.53 bn3.5k2024-252025-26: US$ 3.95 bn4.0k2025-26
India’s routers and networking equipment imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 922 mn+34.4%
2SingaporeUS$ 525 mn-7.6%
3VietnamUS$ 358 mn+21.5%
4ThailandUS$ 347 mn+3.1%
5ChinaUS$ 317 mn+18%
6Hong KongUS$ 240 mn+6%
7MexicoUS$ 239 mn-2.2%
8United KingdomUS$ 172 mn+31.6%
9TaiwanUS$ 155 mn-0.8%
10NetherlandsUS$ 109 mn-6.9%
11South KoreaUS$ 106 mn+24.2%
12MalaysiaUS$ 89.3 mn-0.2%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. JapanUS$ 20.1 mn → US$ 41.4 mn+105.6%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 686 mn → US$ 922 mn+34.4%
  3. United KingdomUS$ 131 mn → US$ 172 mn+31.6%
  4. GermanyUS$ 59.2 mn → US$ 73.8 mn+24.8%
  5. South KoreaUS$ 85.1 mn → US$ 106 mn+24.2%
  6. VietnamUS$ 294 mn → US$ 358 mn+21.5%

Shrinking sources

None

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Others-of-machines for the reception, conversion and transmission o...8517 62 90US$ 3.91 bn+11.6%58.9 mn piecesUS$ 66.40 per piece
Modems (modulators-demodulators) for xdsl based wireline telephony8517 62 30US$ 18.5 mn+362%643k piecesUS$ 28.75 per piece
Multiplexers, statistical multiplexers for pdh based wireline telep...8517 62 70US$ 6.9 mn-24.8%96k piecesUS$ 71.89 per piece
Communication apparatus, machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice… — plcc equipment8517 62 10US$ 5.4 mn-24%6k piecesUS$ 951.71 per piece
Synchronous digital hierarchy system (sdh)8517 62 60US$ 3.2 mn+240%579 piecesUS$ 5578.58 per piece
Voice frequency telegraphy8517 62 20US$ 2.4 mn+67.1%14k piecesUS$ 168.32 per piece
Digital loop carrier system (dlc)8517 62 50US$ 1.4 mn-20.2%5k piecesUS$ 277.50 per piece

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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